STUDY 37A |
ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE |
STUDIES |
(This study was written by Bro. Don Adair and copyrighted © in 2000 by Mt. Carmel Center. You can print a copy of this study for yourself to share with others if you make no changes in it, if you take no credit for it, if you charge no money for it, if you include this notification in this parenthesis with it; and if you include his name, address, phone number, website, and e-mail, at the bottom.)
ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE
| In the year 1929, when a Sabbath-school teacher of the Seventh-day Adventist church (Bro. V.T. Houteff) began to teach his message entitled, The Shepherd's Rod, the General Conference leaders, ministers, and laity opposed it in every way they could; even by the arm of the law, and especially by casting out those members who believe its teachings. (They are known as Davidians, but they have nothing to do with the Branch Davidians.) One such minister, Pastor W. M. Adams, a "committee" member, openly rejected his message of truth, and tried to turn others against it by writing a 32-page brochure entitled, Seventh-day Adventist Teaching Versus The Shepherd's Rod, which contained "A CHALLENGE" to his readers. That challenge was accepted by Bro. Don Adair, because he had read what Jesus asked Seventh-day Adventist to do in His "testimonies" by Sis. White: "Shall we not challenge every doctrine and theory, and put it to the test of God's word?" (F.C.E. 128:0). He is a Davidian (but not a Branch Davidian), who has been studying and teaching the SRod message for forty-nine years. He heard about Pastor Adams' brochure, but had not seen it until recently. After reading his challenge, he compiled an answer and entitled it, ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE. This composition contains the entire brochure that was written by Pastor W. M. Adams. It is combined with comments by Bro. Don Adair, which are enclosed in boxes. |
Compiled by
Pastor W. M. Adams
Glendale, California
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A ChallengeMr. Houteff, leader of The Shepherd's Rod Movement, makes this positive statement:--
"No one should fear or be backward to declare this MESSAGE right from the Seventh-day Adventist pulpit, FOR IT IS PURE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS DOCTRINE, calling God's people back to the principles upon which this great denomination was established."--The Shepherd's Rod, Vol. 1, pg. 250.
Do you readers know for yourselves whether or not the message of The Shepherd's Rod is "pure doctrine"? The only way you can know the truth is to investigate and study for yourselves; because you cannot trust your soul's salvation to anyone, not even your own pastor. "The mind that depends upon the judgment of others {friend, relative, pastor} is certain, sooner or later, to be misled."--Education, pg. 231:0 (bold emphasis, braces added by author). "Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God." (Ezek. 14:14). Read the statements of Pastor W. M. Adams along with the comments of Bro. Don Adair in the light of the Bible and the Testimonies (Isa. 8:20), and learn the truth. |
Now the Question:
Is it "pure Seventh-day Adventist doctrine"? The answer is found by comparing
the statements quoted in the following pages.
| What is "pure" Seventh-day Adventist doctrine? Where did it come from? The Bible says it comes from "the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isa. 8:20). The "law" means the Bible, because it is the Father's word based on His ten commandment law given to mankind; and the "testimony" is the word of Jesus (Mt. 24:35) in the Spirit of prophecy (Rev. 19:10) --the writings of His prophetess Sis. E. G. White. It is by this law and testimony that tests all Seventh-day Adventist doctrine to prove if it is "pure" or not. Those who teach any other doctrine, the saints would know it is not "pure" and "there is no light in them"! This would mean that it is either pure tradition, or pure error! |
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"Take heed unto thyself, and unto the DOCTRINE: continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."--1 Tim. 4:16.
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| Pastor Adam's use of the Bible quotation above applies both ways: not only to the doctrines of The Shepherd's Rod, but also to the doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventist church. This means the warning implied by Pastor Adams for his readers to "take heed" and beware of The Shepherd's Rod message, also means to "take heed" and beware of any Seventh-day Adventist worthless tradition which is not "pure" doctrine. |
| Compare what for yourself? How can this brochure by Pastor Adams be a fair comparison if you only read what he wrote? If you want to compare fairly and honestly, you must not only read the answers given in this composition, but you must also thoroughly investigate the teachings of The Shepherd's Rod message, which Pastor Adams is trying to discourage you from doing. |
No person's character is assailed or maligned in the following pages of comparison. Every one has the privilege of believing, and teaching in proper ways and in proper places, as he likes and thinks best. The matter under consideration resolves itself into the following questions:--
1. Can a person believe in, and follow the teachings of the Shepherd's Rod and still be a loyal Seventh-day Adventist?
| The obvious purpose of the above question by Pastor Adams is to strongly suggest to the readers of his brochure, that those Davidians who believe in the message of The Shepherd's Rod are not "loyal Seventh-day Adventists"! If that is not what he meant by his question, then he would not have written his brochure against the SRod message. Consider this question: If you readers were living in the days of Jesus, would you agree with the Pharisees who said the apostles who accepted His teachings were not loyal to the Jewish faith? The Bible says they were loyal to Jesus, the "truth" (Jn. 14:6), and thus they were loyal the Jewish faith, even though He and His followers were cast out of the church (Jn. 9:22)! And according to this example the readers would be inclined to agree that Davidian teachers of the SRod are loyal Seventh-day Adventist. But the General Conference leaders and ministers say that Davidians are not loyal, which leaves the readers with two opposite choices. And the only way to make the right choice is for the readers to prayerfully investigate and study the SRod for themselves. |
2. Should one remain a member of a Seventh-day Adventist church if he accepts, follows, and advocates the teachings of the Shepherd's Rod?
| There is no need for Pastor Adams to ask his second question if his first question is answered, "Yes, Davidians are loyal Seventh-day Adventists," because if they are loyal then they should remain as members. His second question, therefore, strongly implies that they are not loyal and that they should not remain as members. But is this correct? Consider this: The apostles were not only loyal to the Jewish faith (even though they were cast out), but they also refused to leave the church. Even the angel of the Lord took Peter out of prison and commanded him to go back into the temple and speak to the Jews (Acts 5:17-29). That example proves irrefutably that even though Davidians are falsely accused of not being loyal to the faith and are cast out, they should absolutely refuse to leave the church, as did the apostles! |
3. Are the teachings of the Shepherd's Rod in harmony with Seventh-day Adventist doctrine?
| Since Pastor Adams' first and second questions assume that the Davidians are not loyal, and that they should not remain as members, then his answer to the third question, which he wants his readers to assume, would, of course, be "No, the SRod teachings do not harmonize with Seventh-day Adventist doctrine." But he can't answer for the readers. They must decide for themselves to study the message of the SRod. Then they will see that it is not only in perfect harmony with all true Seventh-day Adventist doctrines, but it is also completely out of harmony with all their traditions and false doctrines"! It is these traditions that Pastor Adams compares to the true teachings of the SRod; and because the two naturally disagree, he thinks that this proves his position is right and the SRod is wrong. |
No argument is made on doctrine, simply a comparison of statements.
| This statement by Pastor Adams is not true, because he does more than just compare statements. He not only adds his arguments to bias the readers to think his way, but he also subtly instills prejudice into their minds so that they will not study The Shepherd's Rod. You can verify this fact when you finish reading his brochure, and note that not once does he encourage you to study the SRod for yourself; because he is afraid that you will see that it is the truth and accept it! The obvious reason why Pastor Adams inserted the above statement, is to make the reader think that his brochure is a fair comparison, when in fact it is not. |
"Can two walk together except they be agreed?"--Amos 3:3.
| The truth of the SRod can never agree with Seventh-day Adventist traditions and false doctrines; and neither can teachers of truth and teachers of tradition walk together. And that, of course, is the obvious reason why the Seventh-day Adventist leaders cast out the Davidian teachers of the SRod. |
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(All italics and capitals are ours unless otherwise stated.--W.M.A.)
| The Seven-headed Leopard-like Beast Of Revelation
13----------------------------------------------1 What Is the First Beast of Revelation 13?------------------------------------------------------------------2 When And How Did One Head Of The Beast Receive The Deadly Wound?-------------------3 What Is The Seal Of The Living God?----------------------------------------------------------------------10 Will The Whole Church, Every Member, Be Perfect Before The "Loud Cry"?----------------11 What Is The Harvest Of Matthew 13?-----------------------------------------------------------------------12 When Will the Wheat and the Tares Be Separated?-------------------------------------------------13 The Name of the Church-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------14 The Seventh-day Adventist Ministers and Leaders----------------------------------------------------16 The Slaughter of Ezekiel 9--When Will It Take Place?-----------------------------------------------18 Comparisons Condensed---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------22 Church Membership-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------23 Vital Counsel and Solemn Warnings for all Concerned----------------------------------------------24 |
(a) New Light
May Be Revealed
But Not Contrary to Established Doctrines
| Whenever God
sent new light to His church, it was always contrary to the so-called
established doctrines based on their traditions, and always in harmony
with its true doctrines. In Jesus' day He was the new "truth" (Jn. 14:6) to the
Jews, which contradicted their established doctrines of tradition about the Messiah.
Later, when God sent reformatory light through Martin Luther, the pope said it was heresy,
because it was contrary to the established doctrines of papal traditions;
and he punished many with excommunication and death. And when God sent new light (Dan. 8:14) through William Miller, the Robert Harmon family believed it and they were cast out of the Methodist church (L.S. 53)! And it was not too long afterwards that God called their daughter, Sis. Ellen Harmon, to be His prophetess and the founder of the Seventh-day Adventist church; after which she married James White and became known as Sis. E. G. White. But the leaders of the Protestant Churches judged her teachings to be false doctrine, because it was contrary to their established doctrines of traditions; and they punished others who believed her writings and cast them out of their churches. Likewise today, when the Lord sent new light to the Seventh-day Adventist church by the message of The Shepherd's Rod, which the Davidians teach to the members, the leaders judge it as false doctrine, because it, too, is contrary to their established doctrines of tradition; and they punish the Davidians by casting them out of their churches! The reason why the saints were always cast out for teaching the truth, is because most of those among God's people did not know the difference between true and false doctrines; so they couldn't tell if the new light is truth or error! And rather than turn to God in prayerful Bible study to understand His new light, they trusted their favorite minister to tell them the difference. And he, in most cases, rather than study according "to the law, and to the testimony" (Isa. 8:20), he would judge new light, not by the true doctrines which it agrees with, but by the traditions which it disagrees with! What about you dear readers? Will you study to know the difference between truth and tradition? Or will you trust your favorite minister to tell you what to accept and what to reject? Is he your mind? Or do you have a mind of your own? |
(b) Those Advocating False Theories
Mis-apply and Twist Testimonies
Result: People Lose Confidence in Testimonies.
Pastor Adams wrote the topics and subtopics above to make the readers believe erroneously that the SRod advocates "false theories," and twists the Testimonies to make the people lose confidence in them. But he is wrong, it is not the SRod that does this. Instead, Jesus stated emphatically in His "testimony" (Rev. 19:10) through His prophetess (Sis. E. G. White) that: "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 {disbelief of the testimonies}. The testimonies are unread and unappreciated."--5 Testimonies, pg. 217:2 (bold emphasis, braces added). The above quotation says that it is the ministers of the Seventh-day Adventist church who discourage the people from reading the testimonies. And because the SRod urges the members to read, study, and believe the "unappreciated" books of Jesus' "testimony," these ministers are afraid the laity will read them and learn the truth. It is, therefore, those ministers who preach self, that Jesus said are causing the people to lose confidence in the Testimonies, not the SRod! |
(c) False Teachers
Accuse the Brethren,
Are Critical and Fault-finding,
Quoting Testimonies of Condemnation,
But Not of Encouragement or for Unity.
| Pastor Adams uses the above topic and subtopics to prejudice the minds of his readers, and cause them to believe that the SRod is critical and condemnatory, even before they have read his brochure. His object, of course, is to inspire antagonistic feelings and negative thoughts, so that they will automatically reject the message of the SRod without any investigation. How can his brochure be a fair comparison as he claims? |
(d) Satan Makes People Zealous
In Advocating His Theories.
Errors First Appear as Truth.
Later Seen Widely Separated from Truth.
| Again, Pastor Adams uses the above topic and subtopics to cause his readers to believe that the SRod teaches doctrines of "theories" and "errors" inspired by Satan, even before they have read his brochure. How can his brochure be a fair comparison as he claims? |
(e) Satan's
Seducing Influence
Hypnotizes Minds of Those Who
Investigate Error.
Willing to be Deceived.
| Note that Pastor Adams is using the above topic and subtopics to cause his readers to believe, even before they have read his brochure, that if they should investigate the message of The Shepherd's Rod, they will be hypnotized and deceived by Satan. How can his brochure be a fair comparison as he claims? |
(f) God Has a Church
A Divinely Appointed Ministry
Will Go Through to the End.
So Come With Us.
Though it is true the Seventh-day Adventist church will go through to the end; this promise does not include false ministers and laity, who are hypocrites, backsliders, and other wicked people. Only the saints in the Seventh-day Adventist church will go through to the end and be saved, not the "tares"! The pastors should know this, yet, they attempt to deceive the laity (especially the "tares" among them) into believing the lie that if they stay with them, as Pastor Adams said, "so come with us," they will go through to the end. But the Lord says this false teaching (that the wicked people in the SDA church will be saved) is an attempt "to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to My people that hear your lies" (Ezek. 13:19). This fact applies to all "lukewarm" (Rev. 3:16) Laodiceans (Rev. 3:14) in the Seventh-day Adventist church who are "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Rev. 3:17); and it is a direct warning to them that there is no hope of ever being among the saints in the Seventh-day Adventist church that goes through to the end, except they "repent" (Rev. 3:19). But what sin are Seventh-day Adventists to repent of? Repent of the sin of thinking these words: "I am rich {with Bible truth} and increased with goods {testimonies}, and have need of nothing" (Rev. 3:17)--no need of the SRod; in spite of the fact that the "goods" which they are increased with, is the testimonies of Sis. White, which rebukes them by this warning: "We must not for a moment think that there is no more light, no more truth, to be given us" (G.W. 310:4)! |
COMMENTS ABOUT PROPOSITIONS In Pastor Adams' brochure he refers to his religious subjects as comparisons of "PROPOSITIONS" (noted below) . His object is to make his readers believe that he is presenting a fair comparison of what Seventh-day Adventists teach (which he says is true), with The Shepherd's Rod (which he says is contradictory). This means he is comparing two different doctrines: One side he is defending, and the other side (the SRod) he speaks against in his comments. The two sides are: No. 1--Truth: On one side of the comparison is the doctrines which true Seventh-day Adventists teach according "to the law and to the testimony" (Isa. 8:20). And though most members believe these doctrines, only a few believe other doctrines of truth, especially the Davidians who are persecuted and cast out. And since the very roots of the Seventh-day Adventist church was founded in 1844 upon the Bible and the testimony of Jesus (Rev. 19:10), then if any Seventh-day Adventist says what Pastor Adams wrote in his brochure, "this is what Seventh-day Adventists teach," it must be according to the "law" and the "testimony." If it is not, then it is based on doctrines of traditions by uninspired men, and "there is no light in them" (Isa. 8:20)! No. 2--Traditions: The other side of the comparison is the false doctrines which the unfaithful leaders teach to the great majority of the laity, according to their customs and traditions. This is what the Jews were defending when they persecuted and killed the Christians who spoke the truth. The truth for which millions of Christians were killed during the Dark Ages; and for which Davidians today are being persecuted and cast out of the Seventh-day Adventist church. It's evident that some of what Pastor Adams wrote in his brochure is the truth; but when he wrote that "this is what Seventh-day Adventists teach," and it is not proven by the law and the testimony, then his readers must understand that what he defends is strictly traditions. It is this side of the comparison (traditions) which he wants his readers to assume is automatically correct; not necessarily because it is truth, but (as he indicated) they must believe it because "this is what Seventh-day Adventists teach"! Honest readers would take the position that is based, not on tradition, but according "to the law and to the testimony" (Isa. 8:20); even if only a minority believes the truth while the majority rejects it! |
"The beast of Rev. 13: 1-10 is a symbol of UNION OF CHURCH AND STATE, which has manifested its fullest development in the Papacy."--"Questions and Answers," by M.C. Wilcox, page 220. (bold emphasis, braces added).
"The SEVEN-HEADED and ten-horned beast, or, more briefly, the leopard beast, here introduced, symbolizes a power which exercises ECCLESIASTICAL as well as CIVIL AUTHORITY."--"Daniel and Revelation," by Uriah Smith, page 559. (bold emphasis, braces added).
Did you notice that Pastor Adams did not use the "law" (Bible) and Jesus' "testimony" (writings of Sis. E. G. White) to prove his first proposition? Why not? Because he cannot produce any such statement from the Bible and the testimony, which teaches what they say. The leopard-like beast does not symbolize a "union of church and state...manifested...in the papacy." Instead, Pastor Adams quoted from the traditional teachings of two members (Bro. Wilcox and Bro. Smith), whose interpretations are not inspired of God. And he wants the readers of his brochure to believe that they, not the law and the testimony, are supposed to represent what Seventh-day Adventists teach. Since, however, these two uninspired men are not prophets, then their traditional teachings must be ignored; and the readers must believe what the true prophets of the Bible and Jesus' "testimony" (writings of Sis. White) teach! John the Revelator is a prophet, and his account of the leopard-like beast (Rev. 13:1-10) is exactly opposite of what these two uninspired traditional teachers say. The fact that this beast has one "head" that is wounded (the papacy), proves that it represents the world today after the church state union of the papacy was broken and the pope was taken captive in 1798. It is, therefore, the Protestant Churches (the other six heads) who protested against the papacy that keeps the one "head" (papacy) wounded; which proves that the churches (seven heads) are separate from the states (ten horns). Furthermore, the crowns of authority are not on the churches (heads), but on the states (ten horns). This irrefutable fact proves that the leopard-like beast cannot represent the traditional teachings of two uninspired men, who say that it is a "union of church and state...manifested...in the papacy" (Bro. Wilcox), and an "ecclesiastical as well as civil authority" (Bro. Smith). Instead, it is just the opposite--the separation of the state governments (ten horns with crowns of authority to rule over (12 Tr 23:0) the churches (heads), as anyone who lives tin this day and age can see for himself, especially here in America! Besides, the leopard-like beast could have no wounded head (papacy) without the second head (protestant)--Martin Luther's doctrine of faith, which inflicted a wound on the papal head and raised up the Lutheran church. Thus, the third head (protestant) would be the Presbyterian church, raised up by Knox who taught the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. The fourth head (protestant) would be the Methodist church, raised up by Wesley who taught the doctrine of grace. The fifth head (protestant) would be the Baptist church, raised up by Campbell who taught the doctrine of true baptism. The sixth head (protestant) would be the First-day Adventist church, raised up by William Miller who taught the doctrine of the sanctuary being cleansed. And the seventh and last head (protestant) would be the Seventh-day Adventist church, raised up by E. G. White who taught the truth of the sanctuary and the seventh-day Sabbath, along with many other true doctrines. It is these Biblical doctrines of the six protestant churches (heads) that irritates the papal head and keeps his wound from healing. "Before the 1260 years ended in 1798, the four Protestant denominations were already in existence; namely, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Christian. But after 1798 came the First-day Adventists; and the Seventh-day Adventists from 1844 to 1929 completed his seven heads. As Protestantism fell by the declaration of the Second Angel's Message after 1844, and as the symbol of Revelation 13 in 1930 revealed that the Seventh-day Adventists 'wondered after the beast' (world), these two incidents healed the wound, and drew the blasphemy over all seven heads....As all other sects are but off-shoots from these seven bodies, the heads included all Christendom up to 1930"--2 Shepherd's Rod book, pg. 107:1 (bold emphasis were added). Furthermore, the leopard-like beast (Rev. 13:2) has the "mouth" of a lion (Babylon)--beast 1; the "feet" of a bear (Medo-Persia)--beast 2; the "body" of a leopard (Grecia)--beast 3; and the "ten horns" of the non-descript beast (Rome)--beast 4. Thus, these body parts prove that the leopard-like beast is beast 5--representing the empire today made up of people who descended from these four great empires. And since there was no papacy until Papal Rome arose in A.D. 538, then this proves the papacy is only a wounded head--not the entire leopard-like beast made up of the descendants of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, and Rome. To teach that the whole beast is the papacy is to teach Seventh-day Adventist tradition, which is worthless! So who inflicted the "deadly wound" on the papal "head"? Jesus did by his servant Martin Luther--a Catholic Christian who protested against the papacy (G.C. 190). He was not, however, Jesus' first protestant. There were many others, but they were martyred by the papacy, while Jesus spared Luther, and he lived on to begin the Protestant Reformation. Then Jesus raised up the other Protestant Churches to keep the "deadly wound" on the papal "head;" and the last is the Seventh-day Adventist church--Laodicea (Rev. 3:14), which means "people declaring judgment." And since these other Christian Protestant Churches rejected the Sabbath and the judgment message of the Seventh-day Adventist church, then they have become a babylon of confusion who stopped protesting against the papacy. Thus, the seventh and last "head"--the Seventh-day Adventist church, is the only church left to continue to irritate the infliction of the "deadly wound" on the papal "head." If it were not for their singular protest by the true doctrines they teach of the judgment and the Sabbath, the "deadly wound" would have been healed long ago. But Jesus said in the Revelation that one day the "deadly wound" would be "healed" (Rev. 13:3). So who will be directly responsible for its healing? Is it the apostate churches of Babylon who have stopped protesting? The obvious answer cannot be "Yes," because God raised up the true protestant church of Seventh-day Adventists in 1844 who have been keeping the wound there ever since . But in the "testimony of Jesus" (Rev. 19:10) He said the great majority of Seventh-day Adventists are "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Rev. 3:17); because "the church has turned back from following Christ their Leader and is steadily retreating toward Egypt"--worldliness (5 Test. 217:2). Which means that Jesus is going one way, and the church with their backs to Him are going the opposite way toward "Egypt" (worldliness); and who can deny this most irrefutable fact? It is their apostasy that has caused them to stop protesting against the papacy. And since the churches of Babylon are not protesting; then that makes seventh-day Adventists solely responsible for the healing of the deadly wound! And that is not because the Seventh-day Adventist church has become a part of Babylon; oh no, they would never do that! It is because the Laodicean church has gone to "Egypt" and become worldly! Now do you see why Jesus said that when the "deadly wound" is healed, that "all the world wondered after the beast" (Rev. 13:3), which is worldliness, not the papacy. That is, before they apostatized and went to "Egypt" (5 Test 217:0), which means worldliness, not all the world wondered after the beast. But after the majority of the church members became worldly, then it could be said that "all the world," including Seventh-day Adventists, have "wondered after the beast"--worldliness (Rev. 13:3)! This fact proves the entire leopard-like beast is not the papacy, because it would mean that Seventh-day Adventists have apostatized and wondered after the papacy. Oh no, they would never do that; instead, they have wondered after worldliness. Therefore, they alone will be responsible for the healing of the "deadly wound," and cause the rise of a church state confederacy as it was in the Dark Ages! Already they have illegally trademarked their name "Seventh-day Adventists" and claim that it is their sole property. And by taking other believers to court for using that name, they are working to destroy the freedom of religion in America. Thus they are working to break down the separation of church and state, by using the state to deny other Seventh-day Adventists the right to use that name! This fact proves that apostate Protestant Seventh-day Adventists are no longer protesting against the papacy. Instead, they are working to heal his "deadly wound" so that he will not die; and they are also working in harmony with the spirit of "Egypt" (which includes Catholics and people of the world) to set up the "New World Order"--a church state confederacy! And while they work to break down the separation of the church with the state, they "war" against God's message of The Shepherd's Rod. And their example will cause their war to spread into Babylon and lead other Protestant Churches to join their churches with the state. God forbid that it should be so, but who can deny it? "While the Lord is now marking the first fruits {the 144,000} of His kingdom, those in Laodicea, 'the ancient men' (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 211), supposing themselves to be doing His bidding by forcing the laity not to listen to the Lord's messengers and not to read his message in The Shepherd's Rod, are attempting to prevent them from receiving His mark, which is to keep them from perishing {die in the slaughter of Ezek. 9}. And as prophecy shows, this war {rejecting the SRod and casting out Davidians}, when finished in Laodicea, spreads into Babylon {after the slaughter} as the Lord begins marking the second fruits {great multitude} of His kingdom, and as the beast {man 666}, supposing himself (as do the ancient men now) to be doing the Lord's bidding, decrees that 'all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond' (Rev. 13:16), receive his mark {666} rather than the Lord's, which is to keep them, also, from perishing {by the 7 last plagues--Rev. 14:9,10}."--9 Tract, pg. 63:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). |
COMMENTS ABOUT SHEPHERD'S ROD ASSERTS Pastor Adams has already stated that his challenge is "simply a comparison of statements" of two sides. However, in referring to his side he uses the words: "SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS TEACH," which means to "communicate" or "explain" or "instruct." But note above in refering to the side of the SRod which Davidians teach he uses the words: "SHEPHERD'S ROD ASSERTS," which means to "accuse" or "allege" or "charge." If his challenge was a fair comparison, he would use the same word--"SHEPHERD'S ROD TEACH! It is obvious that his use of the word "ASSERTS" proves that his brochure is not a fair comparison, but a deliberate attempt to prejudice the minds of the readers, inspire them with antagonistic feelings, and cause them to believe that the Biblical teachings of the SRod is an assertion of false doctrines. This means that his continued use of the word "ASSERTS" in his brochure, is intended to irritate the minds of the readers to inspire them with negative thoughts, and cause them to reject the SRod message without giving it a fair hearing. Moreover, the fact that the leaders of the General Conference has not criticized the brochure which Pastor Adams wrote, is conclusive proof that they are very well pleased with its contents. If, however, he had written these words, "SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS ASSERTS," he would have been severely criticized by every Seventh-day Adventist who has ever read his brochure! |
SHEPHERD'S ROD ASSERTS
That the Seventh-day Adventist Denomination Is One Head of the Beast.
"Note the name of blasphemy is upon all seven heads."--Shepherd's Rod, Vol. 1 page 214.
"Do you not now see the reason for the name 'Blasphemy' over all seven heads of the leopard-like beast (Rev. 13)? And that if one head symbolizes a religious system {papal head}, then they all {heads} must do the same {represent churches}, for they are all alike save for the wound on one of them {papal head}, and all are on the beast (world) at the same time, not one after another."--1 Timely Greetings, No. 3, pg. 10:2 (bold emphasis, braces added).
(N.B.--The Shepherd's Rod pointedly disagrees with the teaching of the Seventh-day Adventist Church concerning the
6
seven-headed or leopard-like beast of Revelation 13. The assertion that Sister White and the Seventh-day Adventist denomination is one of those blasphemous heads, is similar to the assertion that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is Babylon. Read the following quotations from the Spirit of prophecy:--
| Again, Pastor Adams is teaching pure Seventh-day Adventist tradition in his brochure. He is trying to make his readers believe that a blasphemous head means that it is a Babylon head, by saying they are "similar;" but it is not according to the "law and the testimony." If he had searched the Bible, he would know what God inspired His prophet Ezekiel to write about ancient Israel: "Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against Me." (Ezek. 20:27). See what the Lord said about them? He accused the fathers of Israel of blasphemy! But did the Lord say that this blasphemy made them Babylon? "No!" is the only truthful answer that can be given; which proves irrefutably that the blasphemy over the seventh and last head (Seventh-day Adventist church) on the leopard-like beast, does not make them Babylon or any part of Babylon! What Pastor Adams is teaching here is nothing but pure tradition, not pure doctrine; because it is not according to the "law and the testimony" (Isa. 8:20) and there is not light in it! And that is the reason why he is trying to make it appear to the readers of his brochure that Sis. White supports his traditional teachings, by quoting the following statement: |
"For years I have borne my testimony to the effect that when any arise claiming to have great light, and yet advocating the tearing down of that which the Lord through His human agents has been building up, they are greatly deceived, and are not working along the lines where Christ is working. Those who assert that the Seventh-day Adventist churches constitute Babylon, or any part of Babylon, might better stay at home."--Testimonies to Ministers," pages 36,37.
"To claim that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is Babylon, is to make the same claim as does Satan, who is an accuser of the brethren."--Testimonies to Ministers, page 42.
Do you see how Pastor Adams is leading his readers to a wrong conclusion to cause them to reject the SRod? He quoted the Bible that says there is "blasphemy" upon the "seven heads" (Rev. 13:1); then he quoted the SRod that says the seventh head is the Seventh-day Adventist church; then he quoted Sis. White who said the Seventh-day Adventist church is not Babylon; and then he wrote that "blasphemy" and "Babylon" are "similar" to imply that the SRod teaches the Seventh-day Adventist church is Babylon! And yet, he produced no statement from the SRod which teaches this as a fact. Instead, the SRod teaches exactly the opposite; because it is not written anywhere in the its literature, nor do the Davidians teach that the church is Babylon, as noted in the following SRod quotations: "The reason that the {Seventh-day Adventist} church is figuratively not 'Babylon' is that it is called Jerusalem (Ezek. 9:4, 8), and from among the good therein, the wicked (the tares) are destroyed {by the slaughtering angels in Ezek. 9}."--3 Tract, pg. 71:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). "Furthermore, for them {Seventh-day Adventists} 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). "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."--4 Answerer Book, pg. 79:1 (bold emphasis added). "As for their charge that the 'Rod' teaches that the church is Babylon, we challenge them {Seventh-day Adventists} to produce the statement. And if they do not know what Babylon is, then they better read 'The Shepherd's Rod.'"--1 Timely Greetings, No. 3, pg. 10:2 (bold emphasis, braces added). The fact that the SRod does not teach the Seventh-day Adventist church is Babylon, and the fact that Pastor Adams could not find any such statement in the SRod, proves that he is using Seventh-day Adventist tradition as a false accusation against the message of the SRod to cause the readers of his brochure to refuse to study with the Davidians. |
If it is Satan's work, charging that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is "Babylon, or any part of Babylon," whose work is it that declares that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is one of the blasphemous heads of the beast?--W.M.A.)
Did you note that Pastor Adams is not comparing two doctrines and then leaving the reader to choose what is right and wrong, as he said he would do. Instead, he inserted above his false accusation that the Davidians are doing the work of Satan by charging that the Seventh-day Adventist church is Babylon. That means his untrue allegation is founded upon Seventh-day Adventist tradition, not according to the "law and the testimony;" because he does not prove what "blasphemy" really means, nor does he want his readers to know its meaning. Instead, he wants his readers to believe that there is a similarity between the words "blasphemy" and "Babylon," so that he can say they mean the same. Yet, he gives absolutely no proof whatsoever that they are synonymous in meaning. Therefore, it will be necessary to learn what "blasphemy" really means, according "to the law and to the testimony" (Isa. 8:20); because we already know that "Babylon" means the fallen "Protestant churches...Babylon--confusion" (G.C. 383:1. Webster's Dictionary does not say that the word "blasphemy" means Babylon. Instead, it says it is "the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God;" which does not describe the saints, but only those professed Christians who are hypocrites! And here is what the Bible says the word "blaspheme" means as the SRod noted: "To blaspheme is for one to speak lightly of God, to work hypocrisy, to profess to be something other than what one actually is. Inspiration's definition is this: '...I know the blasphemy of them {hypocrites, not the saints} which say they are Jews {Christians}, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.' Rev. 2:9."--2 Timely Greetings, No. 18, pg. 17 (bold emphasis, braces added). It was Jesus who spoke these words (Rev. 2:9) through His prophet John. Therefore, the "Jews" whom He spoke of can only be those who joined the Christian church; but were not true Christian Jews. Instead, they were hypocrites, which is "blasphemy"! Today, Jesus depicts the Christian churches as "seven heads" on the leopard-like beast (Rev. 13:1). They are: (1) The wounded head (papacy). (2) The 5 fallen Protestant Churches (heads) of Babylon. (3) And Laodicea, the seventh and last head, which represents the Seventh-day Adventist church! All heads alike have the "name of blasphemy" over them; which means that the hypocrites in their midst, as the dictionary says, are "insulting" God and "showing contempt" to Him. And there is not one of these heads (churches)--Catholics or Protestants, that can boast they have no hypocrites in their membership who do not blaspheme God's name; especially in the Seventh-day Adventist church! This fact proves irrefutably that "blasphemy" upon the seven heads does not mean they are all "Babylon;" instead, it means that all of these Christian churches have members who are hypocrites, which blasphemes God! Surely, Pastor Adams knows that every Seventh-day Adventist church has their hypocrites; so he must admit that Jesus knows this fact, and that is why He put "blasphemy" upon all "seven heads" (Rev. 13:1). So why has Pastor Adams invented the idea that "blasphemy" means "Babylon"? Because he wants the readers of his brochure to believe that the Davidians teach the Seventh-day Adventist church (seventh head) is Babylon, to make it appear that they teach error. His object, of course, is to prejudice their minds against the SRod so they will not investigate its message! And since the word "blasphemy" does not mean "Babylon," then there is "no light" (Isa. 8:20) in what Pastor Adams is teaching in his brochure about this subject. It is, therefore, not only hypocritical blasphemy, but worthless tradition as well! Now do you see why John the Revelator was inspired of the Lord to put the "name of blasphemy" (Rev. 13:1) not only upon the wounded "head"--the papacy, as well as upon the five protestant "heads" of the churches of Babylon, but also upon the seventh and last "head" of Laodicea? because the remnant church of Seventh-day Adventists have many hypocrites in their midst who blaspheme God? |
PROPOSITION NO. 2
What Is the First Beast of Revelation 13? SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST TEACH"The statement that the beast with two horns `causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the FIRST BEAST,' indicates that the authority of this nation is to be
7 exercised in enforcing some observance which shall be an act of homage TO THE PAPACY."--Great Controversy, Page 442.Pastor Adams abuses the quotation above to make his readers believe the entire "first beast" is the papacy; because he ignores the sentence above his quotation. It says the "first beast" (Rev. 13:12) is the "nations represented by the...leopard-like" (G.C. 445:2); it is the world today ruled by "ten horns"--Protestant "Nations" (G.C. 442:1). Thus, only its wounded "head" (Rev. 13:3) can be the papacy. The six unwounded heads are the Protestant Churches led by Luther in protest against the papacy. It broke his power and separated these churches from the Protestant Nations. The leading nation today is another power--Protestant America. America today is the beast with two horns (Rev. 13:11) who is leading out today to enforce "some observance" (Sunday) as an "act of homage to the papacy." And since Catholics have always worshiped the pope on Sunday, which has always been an "act of homage" to the papacy, then they do not need a law to enforce Sunday worship. Thus, the obvious reason for the Sunday law is not only to enforce worship, but also to stop commercialism and other activities on that day by unbelievers; such as the heathens, athiests, infidels, Mohammedans, Buddists, Hindus, Israelies, Protestants, etc., in the Catholic countries! And this is what the Protestants will do in the Christian countries. This is also the purpose of the New World Order even now in the year 2000--to unite the churches with the states into a world-wide confederacy. But Pastor Adams wants his readers to believe that the papacy symbolizes the entire leopard-like beast; and that he will gain control of America and the entire world, to enforce a Sunday law as an "act of homage to the papacy." Instead, the pope can only force all Catholics and other peoples under their domination to keep Sunday; while America and the Protestant Nations will force all Protestants and other peoples under their domination to do the same. And then all the countries of the free world will be forced to submit their sovreigntry to the New World Order, who will force everyone to keep Sunday--an "act of homage to the papacy." But this "homage" does not mean that the papacy is to rule the entire world through this power. Instead, the papacy must submit with the others to be ruled by the New World Order, whose obvious purpose is to unite together to protect themselves from Communism. During this time America leads out to set it up. Later, America will again lead out to set up the image of the beast. "The professed Protestant world {with America as the leader} will form a confederacy with the man of sin {papacy}, and the church {apostate Protestantism} and the world will be in corrupt harmony."--7A Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, pg. 975:2. (bold emphasis, braces added). It will be the Protestant world, with America leading out, that makes the image of the beast, not the papacy; otherwise the papacy would lead out. That is the reason why Sis. E. G. White stated that America, not the papacy, will lead out; and not only spiritualism and Catholicism, but all the countries will follow "her example," as noted below: "As America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the papacy in forcing the conscience and compelling men to honor the false sabbath {Sunday}, the people of every country on the globe will be led to follow her {America's} example."--6 Testimonies, pg. 18:2 (bold emphasis, braces added). "Foreign nations will follow the example of the United States {of America, not the example of the papacy}. Though she leads out, yet the same crises will come upon our people in all parts of the world."--6 Testimonies, pg. 395:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). "When the nation {of the United States of America} for which God has worked in such a marvelous manner, and over which He has spread the shield of Omnipotence, abandons Protestant principles, and through its legislature {by enacting a Sunday blue law} gives countenance and support to Romanism in limiting religious liberty, then God will work in His own power for His people that are true."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 206:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). |
"To learn what the image is like, and how it is to be formed, we must study the characteristics of THE BEAST ITSELF--THE PAPACY."--Great Controversy, page 443.
Pastor Adams is trying to make his readers believe that Sis. White's statement above supports his traditional teachings that the entire leopard-like beast is "--the papacy." But he can't do this because her previous statement on pg. 442 (which he ignored) stated this irrefutable fact: "the nations represented by the dragon and the leopard-like beast" (Rev. 13:1)! These "nations" with "ten horns," having "crowns" of authority, and the churches (six heads) are Protestant. Thus, the only part left of the leopard-like beast that can refer to the papacy is the wounded "head" (Rev. 13:3). This "deadly wound" is proof that the church state confederacy of the Dark Ages was broken. That is, Luther's reformation caused the papacy (wounded head) to be separated from the other six "heads" and "ten horns." So if we were to "study the characteristics of the beast" concerning "--the papacy" with a "deadly wound" to be "healed" (Rev. 13:3), it would show what the image is like after the wound is healed--another church state confederacy to arise--the New World Order! But it will not be ruled by "--the papacy;" instead, Protestant America will work to unite Catholics with spiritualism (5 Test. 451:1), to be ruled together by the New World Order. And since Seventh-day Adventists know the "deadly wound was healed" in 1929, and since they know America is leading out to set up a church-state confederacy--the New World Order, then this is what their study of this leopard-like beast (the "nations") would reveal to them concerning "--the papacy." |
"The third angel's warning is, `If any man worship the BEAST and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God.' `The BEAST ' mentioned in this message, whose worship is enforced by the two-horned beast, is the first or leopard-like BEAST of Revelation 13--THE PAPACY."--Great Controversy, page 445.
| The previous quotation plainly stated that the two-horned beast (America) enforces the worship of the leopard-like beast, which can only occur after the "deadly wound" of "--the papacy" is "healed," and another church state confederacy is set up--the New World Order! This fact proves that America is not to be controlled by "--the papacy;" instead, it is the power that leads out to establish this confederacy. And, as already mentioned, Sis. White wrote, which cannot be ignored, that "the nations represented by the dragon and the leopard-like beast" (G.C. 442:1), and which proves irrefutably that the entire leopard-like beast is not the papacy, but only the wounded head. This must mean that after its "deadly wound" is healed, a man 666 in America will gain dictatorial power and "unite with the papacy" (6 Test. 18:2), not to allow Catholicism to rule over Protestantism, but to unite the church with the power of the state to enforce Sunday worship. That is, when America, not the papacy "leads out" (6 Test. 395:1), and enforces a national Sunday law in the United States, the "people of every country on the globe will be led to follow her {America not the papacy's} example" (6 Test. 18:2). And America (not the papacy) will also enforce, by its dictatorial power, an international Sunday law among the Protestant "nations" (ten thorns) on the leopard-like beast (G.C. 442:1), which would honor "--the papacy," after its "wounded head" was healed (Rev. 13:3)! |
"In chapter 13 is described another BEAST, `like unto a leopard,' to which the dragon gave, `his power, and his seat, and great authority.' THIS SYMBOL, as most Protestants have believed, REPRESENTS THE PAPACY."--Great Controversy, page 439.
Pastor Adams teaches more Seventh-day Adventist tradition, which leads his readers to a wrong conclusion; because he quotes Sis. White's statement above that says the "beast...represents the papacy" (G.C. 443:2), while he ignores her other previous statement which says the "nations {are} represented by the...leopard-like beast" (G.C. 442:1). Perhaps he has not read this statement. But if he has, it's obvious that he wants his readers kept ignorant of it; so they will believe the entire leopard-like beast is the papacy, and also believe that this error is pure Seventh-day Adventist doctrine. True and faithful Seventh-day Adventists, however, have the Testimonies of Sis. E. G. White as their guide, not worthless tradition. Therefore, they know that "the papacy" is only the wounded "head" (Rev. 13:3), while the "ten horns" on the leopard-like beast represents the "nations." These horns have "crowns" (Rev. 13:1) of authority, which represents the Protestant Nations ruling the people of the world and the churches (12 Tr 23:0). And that's because the papal "head" had previously received a "deadly wound" (Rev. 13:3) by Luther's Reformation, which raised up the Protestant Churches (six heads) and strengthened the Protestant Nations (ten horns) to break away. This ended the power of Papal Rome in 1798, and these "nations" (G.C. 442:1) have been independent of these churches to this very day (year 2000). And that is why they have "crowns" of authority and the churches do not. To ignore this fact would not only make Sis. White teach Pastor Adams' tradition--that the entire leopard-like beast is "the papacy," but it would also discredit her and say that the papacy never did fall in 1798; that he never received a "deadly wound;" and that the Protestant Nations of today do not have "crowns" of authority over the churches! |
(N.B.--The Shepherd's Rod denies the Beast is the Papacy. Note the contradiction, as follows.--W.M.A.)
SHEPHERD'S ROD ASSERTS
The Beast is Not the Papacy.
"The idea concerning the symbolical application of the false prophet of Rev. 19:20, the woman on the scarlet coloured beast of Revelation 17, the leopard-like beast of Revelation 13, the scarlet coloured beast of Revelation 17, and the nondescript beast of Daniel, AS BEING SYMBOLS OF THE PAPACY, IS UNBIBLICAL AND ALSO ILLOGICAL."--2 Shepherd's Rod, page 148.
"The idea that the Papacy is called the Beast is altogether wrong."--2 Shepherd's Rod, page 151.
(N.B.--The Seventh-day Adventists teach that the Beast of Revelation 13 is the "Papacy." The Shepherd's Rod declares that "is altogether wrong." Is that "pure Seventh-day Adventist doctrine"?--W.M.A.)
| Pastor Adams wants his readers to believe that the entire beast is the papacy, which he says is pure Seventh-day Adventist doctrine. Instead, it is pure tradition, because Jesus told Sis. White (as already mentioned) that the "nations" (not the papacy) is "represented by the...leopard-like beast" (G.C. 442:1). And this is what He told Daniel--that the papacy is only the "head" (Dan. 7:8), not the entire non-descript beast, which is the nation of Rome. Therefore, since the papacy is only a wounded "head," and since the SRod teaches what Jesus said the beast is--the "nations," then that is the reason why the SRod stated that what Pastor Adams is teaching "is altogether wrong"! |
PROPOSITION NO. 3
When And How Did One Head Of The BeastPastor Adam stated above that the papacy received his "deadly wound" in 1798 when he was taken captive by Berthier and died. But the papacy was inflicted with a "deadly wound" by Luther about 1500, which continued to weaken the power of the papacy. It was this infliction that "pointed to the downfall of the papacy" in 1798, because he had no power to resist Berthier the French General who took him captive in that year. And this fact proves that without Luther's reformatory infliction in about 1500, the pope would not have died in captivity in 1798! Read where he said so: "I {Luther} will preach, discuss, and write; but I will constrain none, for faith is a voluntary act. See what I have done. I stood up against the pope, indulgences, and papists, but without violence or tumult. I put forward God's word {the just shall live by faith--Rom. 1:17}; I preached and wrote--this was all I did. And yet while I was asleep,...the word that I had preached overthrew popery {not Berthier} so that neither prince nor emperor {Napoleon's general} has done it so much harm. And yet I did nothing; the word alone did it all."--Great Controversy, pg. 190:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). Surely Pastor Adams has read that God's word, "the just shall live by faith," is the truth that inflicted the "deadly wound" to the papal "head" (Rev. 13:3), by what Luther preached. He wrote "the word that I had preached overthrew popery," and "the word alone did it all." By these words he gave God's word the credit for the infliction, not Berthier; because Luther said that "neither prince nor emperor has done it so much harm"! These facts cannot be denied by what other Seventh-day Adventists teach; or by Pastor Adams' tradition. Neither Berthier or any other state power could have done anything to the papacy if Luther had not preached the word to inflict him with a "deadly wound." This is the truth which the SRod teaches, and it cannot be controverted by Pastor Adams or anyone else. To teach otherwise, is to teach worthless tradition! |
"The infliction of the DEADLY WOUND points to the downfall of the PAPACY in 1798."--Great Controversy, page 579.
"AT THAT TIME, the pope was made captive by the French army, THE PAPAL POWER RECEIVED ITS DEADLY WOUND."--Great Controversy, page 439.
Now read how Pastor Adams joined the two statements above to make them ignore Luther's infliction: "the infliction of the deadly wound points to the downfall of the papacy in 1798" (G.C. 759); "at that time, the pope...received its deadly wound" (G.C. 439). Thus, he gives credit for the infliction to a man, Berthier the French general, rather than to the word of God through the reformation of Martin Luther. To do this, though, he had to leave off part of what Jesus' "testimony" stated through Sis. White, which has been underlined: "the papal power received its deadly wound, and the prediction was fulfilled, 'He that leadeth in captivity shall go into captivity'." You see what he did? He put a period in place of a comma, and left off the rest of the sentence about the pope's captivity, to deceive his readers into believing that this was all Jesus said about it. And how did Pastor Adams get away with this for so many years? By creating prejudice in the minds of the readers of his brochure, so that they would not investigate the message of the SRod, and see where he manipulated and misapplied her writings. This proves, of course, that his misquoting her writings was a deliberate attempt to change her meaning in the minds of his readers to fit his false doctrines and worthless traditions! Thus, the truth proves that when God led Martin Luther to teach the truth which inflicted the papacy with a deadly wound (G.C. 190) in 1500, its divine purpose was to weaken the power of the papacy, so that he would finally fall at the dissolution of his church state confederacy at the end of the 1260 years in 1798, as Daniel predicted (Dan. 7:25). Therefore, as long as the papacy continued in power from 1500 up to the end of the 1260 years (Dan. 7:25), he could not fully receive Luther's deadly wound until 1798, at which time Berthier was sent there to take him captive. These facts prove that this is what Sis. White meant when she wrote (3rd paragraph above): "the papal power received its deadly wound" (G.C. 439); but not because Berthier took the pope captive in 1798, but because Luther's reformation in 1500 had already inflicted the papacy with a deadly wound! This means that when the captivity of the Christians by the papacy had ended in 1798, then they were freed from captivity, while the papacy went into captivity. And Berthier was there, not to inflict a deadly wound, but to take the pope captive which fulfilled John's prediction, as Sis. White stated above (G.C. 439), regarding the captivity of the Christians for 1260 years: "He {the pope} that leadeth {Christians} into captivity shall go into captivity" (Rev. 13:10). It is this truth that the message of The Shepherd's Rod defends, as is stated below: "This statement {G.C. 439} says that verse 10 of Revelation 13 ('He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity'), and not verse 3 ('wounded to death'), was fulfilled in 1798! An interpretation other than this cannot be made without disregarding all the aforequoted statements on the subject. The Bible, moreover, plainly shows that the taking of the pope captive was not what inflicted the wound, for whereas the pope never recovered from his captivity {in 1798}, but died in it, the 'head' {Catholic Church} did recover from its wound {began to be healed in 1929--Rev. 13:3}, and lived."--7 Tract, pg. 36:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). "Still further, John saw {in Revelation 13} the event of verse 3 (the wounding of the head) take place before the one of verse 10 (the taking captive of the pope). The wound to the head, therefore, represents the blow as inflicted by the Protestant Reformation {started by Luther, not by Berthier}."--7 Tract, pg. 36:2 (bold emphasis, braces added). It is very obvious that Pastor Adams left off part of Sis. White's words not only to justify the traditions of the Seventh-day Adventist leaders (that Berthier, not Luther, inflicted the wound), but also to deceive the readers of his brochure and discredit the message of The Shepherd's Rod! The above irrefutable facts prove, therefore, that what the SRod teaches is not an assertion, but the truth. It also proves conclusively that what Pastor Adams is teaching is nothing but pure assertions based on worthless traditions, not the truth! |
SHEPHERD'S ROD ASSERTS
The Papal Head was Wounded by Martin Luther.
"The EXILE OF POPE PIUS VI, in 1798, and his death at Valence, France, August 19, 1799, is NOT THE RECEIVING OF THE WOUND, no more than the death of any other pope before or after."-- 1 Shepherd's Rod, page 215
| Pastor Adams teaches that the death of the pope inflicted the wound. And by quoting the statement above, he thinks it proves the SRod is wrong. But he is wrong, because the readers of his brochure can see that the SRod is right for saying "1798 is not the receiving of the wound" by Berthier; because they know that other popes died before 1798! And since their death did not inflict the wound, then the captivity of the pope in 1798 and his death did not inflict the wound either! |
"The Head which received the wound is being interpreted to be the papal head, WOUNDED BY `MARTIN LUTHER.'"--1 Shepherd's Rod, page 216
"The only rightful answer to all these numerous questions is: Luther's blow delivered the infliction on the head."--1 Shepherd's Rod, page 217
(N.B.--The Seventh-day Adventists teach that the deadly wound was inflicted by taking Pope Pius VI prisoner in 1798. The Shepherd's Rod says, No, the papal head was wounded by Martin Luther in 1500 A.D.. Note the contradiction.--W.M.A.)
| Pastor Adams wants his readers to believe that what the SRod teaches (papacy is not the entire beast), is a "contradiction" to what "Seventh-day Adventists teach" (papacy is the entire beast). Instead, the readers can see that the "contradiction" is not caused by the truth the SRod teaches, but by his worthless traditions! |
9
PROPOSITION NO. 4
WHAT IS THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD? SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS TEACH"Said the angel, `The third angel is binding, or SEALING, them in bundles for the heavenly garner.'"--Early Writings, page 89
"The sign, or SEAL, of God is revealed in the observance of the SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH, the Lord's memorial of creation. `The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily MY SABBATHS ye shall keep, for IT IS A SIGN between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you:' Ex. 31:12,13. HERE THE SABBATH IS CLEARLY designated as a SIGN between God and His people."--Testimonies, Vol. 8, page 117.
"Too late they see that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is the seal of the living God."--Great Controversy, page 640.
3RD ANGEL OR SABBATH SEAL IS NOT 144,000 SEAL Pastor Adams quoted three reference above by Sis. White about the seal of the Sabbath and the third angel; because he wants his readers to believe that they are the same as the seal of the 144,000, which is not true. The fact that all the saints (from Adam up to the end) "are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30), some of which kept Sunday, proves that this seal of redemption is not the same as the Sabbath seal. It's true, the Sabbath has always been a sign between God and His people throughout the ages until the last days. But it contains no sure guarantee that Sabbath keepers cannot die; because all have sinned (Rom. 3:23) and are subject to death (Rom. 6:23)! That is why all Sabbath keepers, including Adam, the people of Israel, and Sabbath keeping Christians, have all died. Even today, many Seventh-day Adventists since 1844 have died. Even Sis. White who was a faithful Sabbath keeper, also died; and Seventh-day Adventists are still dying all along to this very day, even though they are sealed by the Sabbath. And if by chance Pastor Adams has died since he wrote his anti-Shepherd's Rod brochure, then he has proven irrefutably that he never received the special seal of the 144,000, in spite of all the years he was sealed by keeping the Sabbath. SEAL OF THE 144,000 KEEPS THEM FROM DYING But now in the latter days God has given to Seventh-day Adventists a new special seal by an "angel" message (Rev. 7:2) for the 144,000 saints; which is not the seal of Sabbath keeping to die, but a special seal to guarantee that they will never die, and thus be alive as the "we" saints (1 Thess. 4:17) at Jesus' second advent! Sis. White wrote about the 144,000 and said: "Elijah was a type of the saints {144,000} who will be living on the earth at the time of the second advent and who will be changed...without tasting of death" (P.K. 227:2). What a marvelous seal that is! It is a special seal of the Lord for those Seventh-day Adventists who have not yet died; and it contains a sure guarantee that they can never die for these reasons: This seal guarantees that the 144,000 will be fed by the angels during the time of famine (E.W. 282:2; Ps. 23), who will guard them from accidents, preserve them from pestilences, and protect them from death when the "wicked raise the sword to kill" them (E.W. 34:1; 285:0). "God would not suffer the wicked to destroy those {144,000} who were {sealed from death and were} expecting translation and who would not bow to the decree of the beast or receive his mark {Sunday worship --T.M. 133:1}. I saw that if the wicked were permitted to slay the saints, Satan and all his evil host, and all who hate God, would be gratified. And oh, what a triumph it would be for his satanic majesty to have power {to kill the 144,000 and those saved 'with' them}, in the last closing struggle, over those who had so long waited to behold Him whom they loved!" --Early Writings, pg. 284:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). ANGELS NOT SLAY 144,000 WHO HAVE THE SEAL But most important of all, the Sabbath keepers who accepted the special seal of the 144,000, will receive God's sure guarantee that when the slaughter weapons of the angels of Ezek. 9:5,6 slay all the wicked "tares" (Mt. 13:30) in the Seventh-day Adventist church, these saints will not be killed (12 SC 2:9:2,3). Read where Sis. White stated below this fact: "Especially in the closing work for the {Seventh-day Adventist} church, in the sealing time of the one hundred and forty-four thousand...This is forcibly set forth by the prophet's illustration of the last work under the figure of the men {angels--Gen. 19:1,5} each having a slaughter weapon in his hand.."--3 Testimonies, pg. 266:2 (bold emphasis, braces added)." "This mightiest of angels has in his hand the seal of the living God, or of Him who alone can give life, who can inscribe upon the foreheads the mark {Ezek. 9:4}...This sealing of the servants of God {Rev. 7:3,4} is the same that was shown to Ezekiel {9:4} in vision {a mark}."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 444, 445 (bold emphasis, braces added). "Mark this point with care: Those {144,000} who receive the pure mark of truth {same as the seal--T.M. 445:2}, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by a mark by the man in linen, are those {Seventh-day Adventist saints} that sigh and cry for all the abominations in the church....Read the ninth chapter of Ezekiel."--3 Testimonies, pg. 267:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). Though it is true that the Sabbath is a seal, it has never given Sabbath keepers any guarantee that they cannot die; because they have all died for nearly 6,000 years! But the 144,000 saints and those "with" them in the Seventh-day Adventist church who accept the "seal" of Rev. 7:3, 4, which is the same as the "mark" of Ezek. 9 (T.M. 445:2), will receive God's sure guarantee that they can not die! They escape all the calamities that kill millions of people, and will be alive at Jesus' second coming (1 Thess. 4:17). What a marvelous guarantee that is, which the world has never before seen among Sabbath keepers (except Elijah--2 Ki. 2:11 and Enoch--Gen. 5:24, who never died)! But those Seventh-day Adventists who keep the Sabbath, yet refuse to be sealed, will not be alive when Jesus comes; they will die in the slaughter of Ezek. 9. These irrefutable facts prove that the SRod is right for two reasons: (1) It teaches that all Seventh-day Adventists and Davidians who accept the seal of the 144,000 will keep the Sabbath. (2) And it also teaches that the Sabbath seal is not the special "seal" or "mark" of the 144,000; for these saints receive the seal that not only makes them invulnerable to the common death that befalls all Sabbath keepers, but it also protects them from dying by the slaughtering angels! And that is why the SRod says that "it may be termed a double seal" (1 S.R. 29:1). |
SHEPHERD'S ROD ASSERTS
It is Not the Sabbath.
"Is THE SABBATH the SEAL of the 144,000?"--1 Shepherd's Rod, page 27.
"This sealing of the 144,000 IS NOT A SABBATH SEAL. However, those who are sealed must be Sabbath keepers. It is a seal, or mark that separates the two classes in the church, and those who are sealed, or marked, are NOT MARKED BECAUSE THEY KEEP SABBATH only, but because they sigh and cry for all abominations that are done in the church."--1 Shepherd's Rod, age 29.
The obvious reason why Pastor Adams cannot understand the difference between the two seals, is because he thinks the seal of the 144,000 is the same seal of the third angel's message, because of what Sis. White stated: "I then saw the third angel....He is the angel that is to select the wheat from the tares, and seal, or bind, the wheat for the heavenly garner. (E.W. 118:1). And since the third angel concerns the "beast and his image" (Rev. 14:9) who makes a Sunday blue law in place of the Sabbath, then he concludes that the third angel seal must be the Sabbath seal. But the third angel is not the "angel" (message) in Rev. 7:2, which he ignores. Why not? Because it is an "additional" message (angel) besides the third angel's message; which means that it symbolizes another message of truth to come to the Seventh-day Adventist church (Laodicea). But Jesus said that their leaders {the General Conference) say they "have need of nothing" (Rev. 3:17), which means they do not want any more truth, and they tell their laymembers that there is no more truth. This, of course, is the reason why Pastor Adams and the other ministers like him refuse to talk about this "angel" (message) in Rev. 7:2. But Jesus sent this "angel" anyway in 1929, which is another special message besides the third angel, which He identified in the writings of His prophetess (Sis. White): "Then I saw another mighty angel {a message to seal the 144,000} commissioned to descend to the earth, to unite his voice with the third angel, and give power and force to his {third angel's} message...The work of this angel {message} comes in at the right time to join in the last work of the third angel's message as it swells to a loud cry."--Early Writings, pg. 277:1,2 (bold emphasis, braces added). "The {3rd angel's} message swells to a Loud Cry by virtue of an 'addition' {angel} which gives it 'power and force.'--Early Writings, p. 277. The only conclusion admissible, therefore, is that since the church has never accepted an additional message {angel of Rev. 7:2}, and since there has never come one (other than that in The Shepherd's Rod publications) that would give 'power and force' to the old message, the Loud Cry could not have begun at any time previous to this."--1 Answerer Book, pg. 82 (bold emphasis, braces added). That "angel" (Rev. 7:2) message, which comes to cause the third angel to swell into a loud cry, began with Sis. White's first vision in Dec. 1844 in Portland, Maine (L.S. 64:1). It was symbolically represented as "ascending {flying} from the east" (Rev. 7:2) toward the west. And it arrived in L.A., California in 1929 when a Sabbath-school teacher (Bro. V.T. Houteff) in a Seventh-day Adventist church there began to teach the The Shepherd's Rod message, which is not only a message to seal the 144,000, but also the message of the "Loud Cry" to seal the "great multitude" (1 TG 46:6:1)! And when the gospel completes its work of sealing the 144,000 in the Seventh-day Adventist church, then the "Judgment will accomplish the work of separation" by the angels who slay--"burn" (Mt. 13:30) the tares in their midst. Afterwards the 144,000 saints preach the message of the "Loud Cry" to call the "great multitude" (Rev. 7:9) out of Babylon (Rev. 18:4) into God's kingdom (Dan. 2:28,44); and the "work of the gospel is complete" for the entire world. Then the "judgment will accomplish the work of separation" to slay the wicked by the seven last plagues; and the rest will die by the "brightness" of Christ's second advent (2 Thess. 2:8). |
(N.B.--Seventh-day Adventists teach that the Seventh-day Sabbath is the Seal; the Shepherd's Rod says it "is not a Sabbath Seal." Another flat contradiction.--W.M.A.)
| Pastor Adams is wrong! There is no "flat contradiction" in the teachings of the SRod about the seal of the Sabbath-keeping saints who die, and the seal of the 144,000 who never die. He is teaching a Seventh-day Adventist tradition that these two seals are the same, which is a "flat contradiction" against Sis. White, not the SRod! His object in quoting Sis. White's three statements above is to make the readers of his brochure believe that she supports his traditions, and also to make them believe falsely that the SRod says the Sabbath is not a seal; when in fact the SRod says the Sabbath is a seal included with the special seal (Rev. 7:2) --a "double seal" (1 S.R. 29:1) for Sabbath-keeping saints (144,000 and those "with" them) who never die! |
PROPOSITION NO. 5
Will the Whole Church, Every Member, Be Perfect Before the Loud Cry? SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS TEACH"Are we hoping to see the WHOLE CHURCH REVIVED? That time WILL NEVER COME."--Mrs E. G. White in Christ Our Righteousness, Page 147.
| Of course the "time will never come" that the whole Seventh-day Adventist church is revived, because it is glutted with hypocrites, backslidders, and unbelievers who will never be revived; neither will they leave the church! And that is because, "the Saviour does not point forward to a time when all the tares become wheat." (C.O.L. 75:1); and also because, "both the parable of the tares and that of the net plainly teach that there is no time when all the wicked will turn to God" (C.O.L. 123:1). And since the "whole church" cannot be "revived" as long as these wicked people are members, then that is why God will send His "reapers" (Mt. 13:39), the slaughtering angels of Ezek. 9:5, 6 to slay--"burn" (Mt. 13:30) these wicked "tares" (Mt. 13:25) in the Seventh-day Adventist church. And the few saints who are left (the 144,000 and those "with" them--2 S.C. 5:8) out of the millions of the wicked members who are killed, will be a "revived" people who are pure and holy before Jesus' second appearing--"not having spot, or wrinkle...without blemish"! (Eph. 5:27; G.C. 425:2). |
"He [Christ] has said that false brethren WILL BE FOUND IN THE CHURCH TILL THE CLOSE OF TIME."--Christ Object Lessons, page 73.
(N.B.--Christ in the parable of the wheat and tares, Matthew 13, shows tares in the church till the end of the world.--W.M.A.)
Sis. White said there is a "close of time" for God's "church;" whereas Pastor Adams changed it to mean the "close of time" for the "world." But he is wrong for this reason: The "tares" are the wicked in the world, while the "wheat" are the saints in the church of Seventh-day Adventists; and the only way they can "grow together" (Mt. 13:30), is for "the devil" (Mt. 13:25,39) to bring them from the world into "Laodicea" (Rev. 3:14)--the church of God. Therefore, when Sis. White said "false brethren will be found in the church till the close of time," she did not mean the close of probation for the world, as Pastor Adams wrote in his brochure, but the close of probation for the Laodicean church where the "wheat" (saints) are to "grow together"! It is obvious that he is trying to hide the fact that there are two times when probation closes in the last days: One close of probation for the Seventh-day Adventist church where the wheat (saints) and the tares (wicked) are to "grow together." And the final close of probation for the churches and nations of the entire world. Note this fact in Sis. White's writings about other times when probation was closed for certain people, which was not the final close of probation for the entire world: "There was a shut door {Mt. 25:10--close of probation} in Noah's day. There was at that time a withdrawal of the Spirit of God from the sinful race that perished in the waters of the Flood. God Himself gave the shut-door message to Noah: "'My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years' (Gen. 6:3). "There was a shut door {close of probation} in the days of Abraham. Mercy ceased to plead with the inhabitants of Sodom, and all but Lot, with his wife and two daughters, were consumed by the fire sent down from heaven. "There was a shut door {close of probation} in Christ's day. The Son of God declared to the unbelieving Jews of that generation, 'Your house is left unto you desolate {Holy Spirit withdrawn and probation closed, (Matt. 23:38)....I was shown in vision, and I still believe, that there was a shut door {close of probation} in 1844. All who saw the light of the first and second angel's messages and rejected that light, were left in darkness."--1 Selected messages, pg. 63:1-8 (bold emphasis, braces added). "It will be noticed that the close of probation for the {Seventh-day Adventist} church and the one for the world {Babylon} are two different events."--2 Shepherd's Rod book, pg. 186:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). According to what Sis. White stated, which the message of The Shepherd's Rod also teaches (as noted above), the time when probation closes for the entire world is not the same as the time when probation closes for Seventh-day Adventists; which Sis. White said is "the closing work for the church, in the sealing time of the one hundred and forty-four thousand...the last work" (3 Test. 266:2). Then with the beginning of the "time of harvest" (Mt. 13:30) the "reapers" (Mt. 13:39), the slaughtering angels of Ezek. 9, will slay the "tares" in God's church; wherein the harvest continues to seal the "great multitude" (Rev. 7:9) whom the 144,000 and those "with" them (Isa. 66:21) will call out of Babylon (Rev. 18:2,4), after which probation closes for the entire world! In order to teach that there will be "tares in the church till the end of the world," Pastor Adams ignored Sis. White's other statement on the previous page. If you read them together they say: "The tares and the wheat are to grow together until the harvest; and the harvest is the end of probationary time" (C.O.L. 72:0). "He has said that false brethren will be found in the church till the close of time" (C.O.L. 73:0). You see? He quoted pg. 73 about the "close of time," but ignored pg. 72 which says it is the "end of probationary time." This proves the harvest is not at Christ's coming. Instead, it means the Seventh-day Adventist church where the wheat and tares "grow together" (Mt. 13:30); as Sis. White said: "'The field,' Christ said, 'is the world! But we must understand this as signifying the church of Christ in the world." (C.O.L. 70:1). Later, probation closes for the entire world, and Babylon suffers the plagues. |
"Some people seem to think that upon entering the CHURCH they have their expectation fulfilled, and MEET ONLY WITH THOSE WHO ARE PURE AND PERFECT. They are zealous in their faith, and when they see FAULTS IN CHURCH MEMBERS, they say `We left the world in order to have no association with evil characters, but the evil is here also;' and they ask, as did the servants in the parable, `From whence then hath it tares?' But we need not be thus disappointed, for the Lord has NOT WARRANTED us in coming to the conclusion that THE CHURCH IS PERFECT; and all our zeal will not be successful, in MAKING THE CHURCH MILITANT AS PURE AS THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT."--"Testimonies to Ministers," page 47.
"Although there are EVILS EXISTING IN THE CHURCH, AND WILL BE UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD, the CHURCH in these last days is to be the light of the world that is polluted and demoralized by sin."--Testimonies to Ministers, page 49.
Pastor Adams wants his readers to believe that Sis. White said above that the "end of the world" is Christ's second advent. Instead, she said it refers to the "church in these last days." Thus, the "end of the world" is the same as the "time of the end" (Dan. 12:4); the "latter days" (Jer. 30:3); and the "last days" (Isa. 2:2); which is a period of time just before His second advent. In regard to Daniel's prophecy, "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" (Dan. 12:4), Sis. White stated this: "But since 1798 the book of Daniel has been unsealed {in the time of end}, knowledge of the prophecies has increased, and many have proclaimed the solemn message of the judgment near."--Great Controversy, pg. 356:2) (bold emphasis, braces added). By her placing above the "time of the end" at 1798, it puts the "latter days" and the "end of the world" at the same time as Paul stated twice: "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come" (1 Cor. 10:11); "but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." (Heb. 9:26). This time (end of the world) when Christ appears (Heb. 9:26) is not at His second advent; for Seventh-day Adventists teach that the "end of the world" or "time of the end" spans from 1798 (G.C. 356:2) on to 1844 when Jesus had appeared in the heavenly sanctuary "once in the end of the world" (Heb. 9:26)--during probationary time. That event began the judgment of the dead when He was to cleanse the Lamb's book of life. Note their comment: "END OF THE WORLD. Or, 'consummation of the ages.' 'End of the world is here used synonymously with 'in these last days' of ch. 1:2 {which says: 'God, who...spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken to us by His Son'}, and should be understood in light of the comment here given."--Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, pg. 456 (bold emphasis, braces added). In Hebrews 1:2 above, Paul spoke of Jesus and said "once in the end of the world hath He appeared" (Heb. 9:26), which was in 1844 (G.C. 426:1,2) to begin the judgment of the dead. Sis. White also said that the "end of the world" is the same as the "last days" (T.M. 49:1); and the General Conference leaders agreed with her in their Bible Commentary above. These facts prove that Elijah's message of the SRod is right! It is at the "beginning" (3 Tr 66:1) of the "harvest" in the "end of the world" (last days of probationary time for God's church) when the judgment of the dead ends and the judgment of the living begins, that probation will close for the Seventh-day Adventist church. Then the "reapers...the angels" (Mt. 13:39) of God will "burn"--symbolically meaning to kill (Mt. 13:30)--all the wicked, and leave 144,000 saints and those saved "with" them. |
"Enfeebled and defective as it may appear, the CHURCH is the ONE OBJECT upon which GOD BESTOWS IN A
11SPECIAL SENSE HIS SUPREME REGARD."--Acts of the Apostles," page 12.
| Why has the Lord made the Seventh-day Adventist church His most "supreme regard"? There can only be one reason, and that is because of the saints (the wheat) in her midst. But why is this church also "enfeebled and defective"? Obviously because of the great majority of wicked hypocrites, backsliders, and "tares" in her midst. That is why God will send His "reapers...the angels" (Mt. 13:39) in the "end of the world" during the probationary time of the "harvest" to "burn" (kill) them (Mt. 13:30) by the slaughter of Ezek. 9. Then His church will no longer be "enfeebled and defective;" because the saints in His kingdom will be "without blemish" (Eph. 5:27; G.C. 425:2), even before Jesus' second advent. |
"We need the Pentecostal energy. THIS WILL COME; for the Lord has promised to send His Spirit as the all-conquering power."--Testimonies, Vol 8, pages 297,298.
"Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, THEN HE WILL COME TO CLAIM THEM AS HIS OWN."--Christ's Object Lessons, page 69.
| The "tares" in the Seventh-day Adventist church are not God's people, because "the tares represent a class who are the fruit or embodiment of error, of false principles." (C.O.L. 70:0). "The Saviour does not point forward to a time when all the tares become wheat" (C.O.L. 75); because the tares will never become wheat. Therefore, when probation closes for God's church, "the harvest is past" (Jer. 8:20) for the wicked, and they die in the slaughter of Ezek. 9 (3 Test. 266, 267). Then probationary time continues (3 Tr 68:3) for the harvest of the saints in the world, when the 144,000 calls the "great multitude" out of Babylon (Rev. 18:4). Afterwards, probation closes for the wicked who die in the seven last plagues, while the rest of the wicked are killed by the "brightness" (2 Thess. 2:8) of Jesus' second coming. |
SHEPHERD'S ROD ASSERTS
"The early Christian church was a converted righteous church; nevertheless, the tares and the `wheat were to grow together' until the harvest.' (Matt.13:30) Those words, `until the harvest,' cannot be mistaken; therefore, at the commencement of the harvest the separation takes place. Thus the CHURCH in the time of the `Loud Cry' IS TO BE A PURE AND HOLY CHURCH, WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE, OR ANY SUCH THING; A CHURCH WITHOUT GUILE."--2 Shepherd's Rod, p. 264.
"The PURIFICATION OF GOD'S CHURCH marks the harvest or the `Loud Cry' of the Third Angel's Message."--2 Shepherd's Rod, page 102.
| Rather than teach that the "end of the world" is a period of time from 1798 (G.C. 356) or earlier (1 T.G. 4:24:6; 2T.G. 7:5), Pastor Adams teaches Seventh-day Adventist tradition that the "end of the world" is only one day when Jesus appears for His saints. It is these facts which prove once again that the SRod is right: The Laodicean church exists in the "time of the end," which is the same as the "end of the world." One day soon, when probation has closed for the Seventh-day Adventist church, God will purify His church by sending His angels to slay all the wicked people in her midst. |
PROPOSITION NO. 6
What Is The Harvest of Matthew 13? SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS TEACHIn Matt. 13:39, the parable of the wheat and the tares, Jesus said: "THE HARVEST IS THE END OF THE WORLD."
12Spirit Of Prophecy Says:
"The wheat and tares grow together until the HARVEST, THE END OF THE WORLD."--Christ Object Lessons, page 75.
When will the wheat and tares "grow together" (Mt. 13:30) in the "end of the world" (Mt. 13:39)? Consider this: After the 120 disciples received the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:1-4), the Christian church (Acts 11:26) began with no tares in her midst, for Judas was dead. But when the Devil tried to put two of his tares, Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1), into the church, Peter knew who they were and by the power of the Holy Ghost they fell dead at his feet (Acts 5:2-11). It was later, "while men slept" (Mt. 13:25), that the sleeping ministers let the "tares" come into the Christian church. Then in the latter days, in the "end of the world," Jesus spoke (Heb. 1:2) through the writings of Sis. White--His "testimony" (Rev. 19:10), and said that in God's church (Laodicea--Rev. 3:14), there are "sleeping preachers preaching to a sleeping people" (2 Test. 337:2)! These "sleeping preachers" have brought millions of "tares" into the Seventh-day Adventist church; and they "grow together" (Mt. 13:30) with the "wheat" (saints), as Sis. White stated: "The class of professed Sabbath keepers {tares} who try to form a union between Christ and Belial...take hold of the truth with one hand and of the world with the other,...This class {of tares} are all professed Christians. Their names are on the {Seventh-day Adventist} church books"--5 Test., pg. 52:2 (bolds, braces added). One day very soon, at the "beginning" (3 Tr 66:1) or "commencement" (2 S.R. 264:3) of the "time of harvest" (Mt. 13:30) at the "end of the world," which is the "end of probationary time" for the Seventh-day Adventist church, where the tares "grow together" (Mt. 13:30) with the saints, the "reapers...the "angels" (Mt. 13:39) of Ezek. 9 will come to "burn"--kill them (Mt. 13:30)! |
"The HARVEST IS THE END OF PROBATIONARY TIME."--Christ's Object Lessons, page 72.
Since Pastor Adams is a minister, he should know that when "probationary time" for the entire world has closed, it cannot be Christ's second advent, because the seven last plagues (Rev. 16; G.C. 627, 628) must fall first. That is why the SRod teaches these two facts: (1) That the "time of harvest" (Mt. 13:30) begins (3 Tr 66:1) with the closing of probation for the tares who are burned (Mt. 13:30)--killed by the angels, which is not in the Babylon churches but in the church of Seventh-day Adventist. (2) And that the "time of harvest" continues on to call the "great multitude" (Rev. 7:9) from Babylon (Rev. 18:4); then probationary time closes for the entire world. And that is why Sis. White wrote, "the harvest is the end of probationary time," which cannot be at Jesus' second advent! These two times that probation closes should not be a mystery to Pastor Adams, because Sis. White showed other probations (1 S.M. 63:1-8) which closed for the wicked before the final close of probation for the entire world, yet to occur. "Let us now have a sample of their {Seventh-day Adventists} habit of quoting from Sister White's writings and of their system of interpreting them. Here it is:"--Jezreel Letter, No. 8, pg. 4:1 (braces added). "'The tares and the wheat are to grow together until the HARVEST; and the HARVEST IS THE END OF PROBATIONARY TIME.'--Christ's Object Lessons, p. 72.'--Adam's Brochure, p. 8."--Jezreel Letter, No. 8, pg. 4:2. "This quotation they {Seventh-day Adventists} interpret to mean that the wheat and the tares are to grow together until probation closes {for the entire world} and that then the harvest is to begin. But does the quotation say so?--On the contrary, it says that 'the tares and the wheat are to grow together until the harvest,' then it explains that the harvest ends probationary time--that after probationary time ends, then it is that probation closes {for the entire world}!"--Jezreel Letter, No. 8, pg. 4:3 (bold emphasis, braces added). "Here is what the Bible says, 'The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.' Any one who wants Truth can see that since, according to prophecy, no one can be saved after the harvest, the harvest, therefore, is probationary time, that it ends probationary time, that it caused probation to close, that it brings the end of the world."--Jezreel Letter, No. 8, pg. 4:4 (bold emphasis, braces added). "In the time of harvest' (Matt. 13:30), my friends, means that the harvest is a short period of time, the last, the time in which to separate the wheat from the tares {first in the SDA church and then in the world}..."--Jezreel Letter, No. 8, pg. 4:5 (bold emphasis, braces added). "It will be noticed that the close of probation {shut door} for the church and the one for the world are two different events."--2 Shepherd's Rod book, pg. 186:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). "There was a shut door {close of probationary time} in Christ's day."--1 Selected messages, pg. 63:8 (bold emphasis, braces added). And so it is today in the "end of the world" (latter days), when the sealing of the 144,000 is finished in the Seventh-day Adventist church, that there is to be a close of probation (shut door) for the people who reject the message of the SRod (judgment of the living). And then the "reapers" (Mt. 13:30)--the "angels" (Mt. 13:39), during the "time of harvest" (Mt. 13:30), will "burn" (Mt. 13:30)--slay the wicked tares in the Seventh-day Adventist church by the slaughter of Ezek. 9, leaving the 144,000 saints and those "with" them. Afterwards, the Loud Cry will begin for these saints to gather in a "great multitude" of saints from Babylon (Rev. 18:4)--the world. And when they are all gathered, then the close of probation for the entire world will occur (shut door), and the seven last plagues fall on the wicked who reject that message of truth; at the end of which Jesus appears the second time. |
SHEPHERD'S ROD ASSERTS
"It is the Loud Cry."
"`But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the HARVEST: and in the time of HARVEST I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn' Matt. 13:29,30.
"Note that the separation takes place just at the beginning of the HARVEST; also that the tares are gathered in first. The separation marks the beginning of HARVEST. The HARVEST IS THE LOUD CRY OF THE THIRD ANGEL'S MESSAGE."--1 Shepherd's Rod, pages 103,104.
(N.B.--The Seventh-day Adventists teach that the harvest of Matthew 13 is "The end of the world," "The end of probationary time." The Shepherd's Rod declares that the harvest is the "Loud Cry." Another contradiction.--W.M.A.)
Again the SRod is right, for Pastor Adams is teaching more of his tradition, which is a "contradiction" to the truth! Here is why: After Luther began the Reformation the major Churches were raised up, then the "time of the end" (Dan. 12:4) began; and in 1844 the Seventh-day Adventist church began when Sis. White had her first vision of the 144,000. Later in 1929, the Lord sent Elijah with the message of the SRod to seal the 144,000, and they are still being sealed today in the year 2000. There will also be unnumbered saints sealed "with" them, some of which have died, and others who will not die (2 S.C. 5:8). Those who died since 1929 are saved "with" the 144,000; they will be raised to life again (E.W. 285:1) in the special resurrection (Dan. 12:2). When all the 144,000 have been sealed, probation closes for the Seventh-day Adventist church, and the "time of harvest" (Mt. 13:30) begins with the slaughter of Ezek. 9. Afterwards, the 144,000 calls the "great multitude" (Rev. 7:9) out of Babylon (Rev. 18:4) by the Loud Cry (Rev. 14:6-11; 18:2), at the end of which probation closes for the entire world, and the seven last plagues fall on the wicked. Pastor Adams thinks the "harvest" is only for the 144,000 (Rev. 7:4), but it also includes a "great multitude" (Rev. 7:9) of saints. "Thus in the first section of the harvest, the separation in the {SDA} church, the wicked are destroyed by six men with slaughter weapons, before the good {144,000} are taken out; and in the second section, the separation among the churches in Babylon, the wicked are destroyed by seven angels with the seven last plagues, after the good {great multitude} are taken out."--3 Tract, pg. 71:3 (bold emphasis, braces added). |
PROPOSITION NO. 7
When Will the Wheat and the Tares Be Separated? SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS TEACH"When the mission of the GOSPEL IS COMPLETED, the JUDGMENT will accomplish the work OF SEPARATION."--Christ's Object Lessons, page 122.
13"When the work of the GOSPEL IS COMPLETED, there immediately follows the separation between the good and the evil, and the DESTINY OF EACH CLASS IS FOR EVER FIXED."--Christ's Object Lessons, page 123.
Pastor Adams wants his readers to believe that the "gospel" mentioned above ends with the close of probation for the entire world. But its context proves this gospel is for Seventh-day Adventists; for "Christ saw... the existence of false brethren in the church" (C.O.L. 122:2), not in the world. Also, "the wheat and tares grow together until the harvest" (C.O.L. 123:1) for God's church, not the world, where they "grow together" (Mt. 13:30). He also wants his readers to believe that only one gospel is preached--to the world; then probation closes and the "work of separation" occurs during the plagues (Rev. 16:1) to slay the wicked in the world. But this is only tradition, because there are two gospels preached in the last days, according to the type: In the days of the early Christians (Acts 11:26), "the gospel of the kingdom" (Mt. 4:23) had two phases: First, they preached to the people of Israel for 3 1/2 years. Second, at the end Paul told the Jews, "lo, we turn to the Gentiles" (Acts 13:46). And so it is today. (1) The "gospel," meaning the "good news" of Christ's kingdom (Mt. 4:17), is first preached to Seventh-day Adventists, the Israel (9 Test. 164) of today, to seal the 144,000 (3 Test. 266), and probation closes. Then the angels of Ezek. 9 begin the "work of separation" to slay the wicked. Then the 144,000 stand on Mt. Zion (Rev. 14:1) in God's latter day kingdom (Dan. 2:28,44) (2) Afterwards the 144,000 preach the gospel to the Gentiles and call a "great multitude" (Rev. 7:9) out of Babylon (Rev. 18:4) into God's kingdom. Then probation will close for the entire world and the wicked are punished by the seven last plagues. |
"The tares and the wheat are to grow together until the HARVEST; and the HARVEST IS THE END OF PROBATIONARY TIME."--Christ's Object Lessons" page 72.
| Pastor Adams quoted the reference above to make his readers believe that Sis. White supports his idea that the slaughter of Ezek. 9 occurs during the seven last plagues, after probation closed for the entire world. But this is only tradition! The harvest is the time (Mt. 13:30) when "the tares and the wheat are to grow together" (quoted above) in the Laodicean church, which is not Babylon or any part of Babylon (T.M. 36, 37), just before the tares are slain (Mt. 13:30). And since they have not yet been slain, it proves that the "harvest is the end of probationary time" for the wicked in the Seventh-day Adventist church; who are slain by the Ezek. 9 slaughter, after their probation has closed. Therefore, this slaughter in God's church is not for the wicked in Babylon, who will die during the seven last plagues, after the close of probation for the entire world. |
SHEPHERD'S ROD ASSERTS
Takes Place at the Beginning of the Harvest
The Beginning of the "Loud Cry."
"`Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.' Matt. 13:29,30....
"Note that the separation takes place just at the beginning of the HARVEST; also that the tares are gathered in first. The separation marks the beginning of HARVEST. The HARVEST IS THE LOUD CRY OF THE THIRD ANGEL'S MESSAGE."--1 Shepherd's Rod, pages 103, 104.
(N.B.--The Seventh-day Adventists teach that the "Judgment will accomplish the work of separation," after "the work of the gospel is completed." The "destiny of each class is FOR EVER FIXED." But the Shepherd's Rod teaches contrary. It declares that the wheat and tares are separated "just at the beginning of harvest," then the "Loud Cry," a work of winning souls, begins.--W.M.A.)
Pastor Adams uses Sis. White's writings above to make it appear to his readers that the SRod teaches "contrary" to what "Seventh-day Adventist teach." But he is only teaching tradition, because he did not reveal to them that there are two classes of saints saved during the "time of harvest" (Mt. 13:30). They are the 144,000 (Rev. 7:4) saved from the Seventh-day Adventist church, and the "great multitude" (Rev. 7:9) saved from the people and the churches of Babylon. He quotes her statement above, the "work of the gospel is completed" (C.O.L. 123:2), and applies it strictly to the final close of probation for the entire world. But he overlooks the fact that the gospel is first "completed" in the "closing work...the last work" (3 Test. 266) for the Seventh-day Adventist church; when the 144,000 are sealed by "another mighty angel"--message (Rev. 7:2). Then it seals the "great multitude" (Rev. 7:9). ELIJAH--A TYPE OF THE 144,000 These two classes of saints (144,000 and the great multitude) have types, because Paul says that what "happened unto them" (ancient Israel) are types (margin) for "our admonition" today (1 Cor. 10:11). The fact that "Elijah was a type of the saints...living on the earth at...the second advent" (P.K. 227:2; 1 SRtr 22:4), proves that he typifies the 144,000, because they are of the twelve tribes of Israel as Elijah was of Israel. And as Elijah believed the true doctrines of the church of Israel, so the 144,000 believe the true doctrines of the church of Seventh-day Adventists. And as Elijah had a "mantle" (2 Ki. 2:8) on his shoulders; so each of the 144,000 will have "a mantle from their shoulders to their feet" (E.W. 17:0). And as Elijah was translated "into heaven" without dying (2 Ki. 2:11), so the 144,000 "will be 'changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump,' without tasting of death. 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52" (P.K. 227:2). Moreover, the 144,000 are sealed by an "angel" (message--Rev. 7:2) who symbolically flew toward the west from the east (Portland, Maine--L.S. 64:1); where Sis. White had her first vision of the 144,000 (E.W. 13-20). He arrived in L.A., Calif. with his SRod message in 1929 to began the "closing work" (3 Test. 266:2) of sealing the 144,000 and those "with" them (1 T.G. 4:27:1; 2 S.C. 5:8). Afterwards,probation closes for the Seventh-day Adventist church, and the wicked who rejected the sealing message will die in the slaughter of Ezek. 9. Then the 144,000 preach the Loud Cry to gather a great multitude of saints from Babylon, as typified by Enoch. ENOCH--A TYPE OF THE GREAT MULTITUDE The Bible said "by faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him" (Heb. 11:5). He typifies another class of saints in the latter days, the great multitude (Rev. 7:9), who are alive at Christ's coming to be translated without dying. "The godly character of this prophet {Enoch} represents the state of holiness which must be attained by those who shall be 'redeemed from the earth' at the time of Christ's second advent....As Enoch was translated to heaven before the destruction of the world by water, so the living righteous {the great multitude} will be translated from the earth before its destruction by fire." (P.P. 88, 89). Enoch was translated before Israel's kingdom, so he was a Gentile; thus, many of the great multitude are Gentiles. And as Sis. White saw "Enoch, who had been translated" with "a glorious palm" on his arm (E.W. 40:0); so the "great multitude" had "palms in their hands" (Rev. 7:9). In John's prophecy (Rev. 6:17) a question is asked, "who shall be able to stand?" And he answers by identifying two classes (Rev. 7:4, 9) of living saints: (1) The 144,000 (typified by Elijah); (2) and the great multitude (typified by Enoch). Most S.D.A. members believe that only 144,000 are saved out of the entire world; because their leaders say the great multitude are the dead saints of all ages resurrected at Christ's second advent. But this is worthless tradition! The great multitude live during the fourth plague when "the sun" will "scorch men with fire" (Rev. 16:8); because John said, "neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat" (Rev. 7:16). To deny this fact is to say that all the dead saints lived their entire life in a dark cave, where they felt no light of the sun, nor heat of a fire! So where do these living saints, the great multitude, come from? It is after the angels of Ezek. 9 slay the "tares" in the Seventh-day Adventist church, that the 144,000 stand on Mt. Zion (Rev. 14:1) to set up God's kingdom (Dan. 2:28, 44). They are those: "Clad in the armor of Christ's righteousness, the church is to enter upon her final conflict. 'Fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners'...she is to go forth into all the world conquering and to conquer." (P.K. 725:1). It is during this "final conflict" that they "conquer" by preaching the Loud Cry message to call the great multitude out of Babylon (Rev. 18:4). And when this final "work of the gospel is completed" (C.O.L. 123:2), probation closes for the entire world, and the wicked in Babylon suffer the plagues, then Jesus comes again. |
PROPOSITION NO. 8
The Name Of The Church
SHEPHERD'S ROD ASSERTS"I WAS SHOWN in regard to the remnant people of God TAKING A NAME." "NO NAME which we can take will
14be appropriate but that which accords with our profession and expresses our faith and marks us a peculiar people. The NAME SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST is a standing rebuke to the Protestant world." "The NAME SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CARRIES THE TRUE FEATURES OF OUR FAITH IN FRONT, and will convict the inquiring mind. LIKE AN ARROW FROM THE LORD'S QUIVER, it will wound the transgressors of God's law, and will lead to repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ."--Testimonies, Vol. 1, pages 223,224.
SHEPHERD'S ROD ASSERTS
A New Church Name.
"Note that the existence of the present name--SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST--is conditional, otherwise the NAME will be spued out of His mouth."--1 Shepherd's Rod, page 101.
"The CHURCH IS REORGANIZED UNDER A NEW NAME. The old name, being polluted, could NO LONGER BE RETAINED." "The NAME ONLY REMAINS FOR A CURSE."--1 Shepherd's Rod, PAGE 155
"The ROD OF MOSES was a symbol of God's power. The Shepherd's Rod: power of God; the sheep: God's people; THE SHEPHERD'S ROD IS AN INSTRUMENT WHICH IS USED TO CATCH SHEEP. The ROD in this instance is an instrument which is used to catch people."--1 Shepherd's Rod, page 95.
(N.B.--The Name "Seventh-day Adventist" was shown Mrs. E. G. White. It "accords with our profession and expresses our faith." It is "like an arrow from the Lord's quiver." It "will convict the inquiring mind." But the shepherd's Rod says, "the OLD NAME, being polluted, COULD NO LONGER BE RETAINED." "The CHURCH IS REORGANIZED UNDER A NEW NAME." If it be true, as the Rodists declare, "the church is reorganized under a new name," because the "old name" "could no longer be retained," why do they persistently assert that they are "Seventh-day Adventists"? "O consistency, thou art a jewel."--W.M.A.)
15It's true, Jesus, through His testimony in the writings of His prophetess (Sis. White), did give to His people the name Seventh-day Adventist. And since Davidians know that it is God's church, then that is the reason why they claim to be Seventh-day Adventists. But Davidians also know that Jesus will reorganize His church and give it another name as He said by His prophet Isaiah: "And ye shall leave your name {Seventh-day Adventists} for a curse unto my chosen [the 144,000]: For the Lord God shall slay thee {wicked tares in their midst}, and call his servants by another name.' Isa. 65:15." (1 S.R. 101:0). Since Pastor Adams is a minister, He should know that it was the Lord Jesus who gave to the kingdom of ancient Israel their name from Jacob (Gen. 32:28); and that because of their sins they lost their kingdom. Then in the days of Jesus they crucified Him, and after His resurrection He reorganized His church. Then He no longer called them the children of Israel, but He called them by another name --"Christians" (Acts 11:26)! So likewise today. In 1901 Jesus told His prophetess (Sis. White) that the Seventh-day Adventist church needed "reorganization," and she wrote these words: "That these men should stand in a sacred place to be as the voice of God to the people, as we once believed the General Conference to be,--that is past. What we want now is reorganization."--General Conference Bulletin, April 3, 1901 (bold emphasis added). The people in the Seventh-day Adventist church (Laodicea) have become "lukewarm" (Rev. 3:16); and they need to be reorganized. In 1929 Jesus sent His prophet Elijah with a message of the SRod to bring about that needed organization, which said: "As restorers of every Divine institution, we are glad to announce to the readers of Present Truth, that besides the {SRod} literature of 'revival,' they may now also obtain that of 'reformation,' our organizational publication, The Leviticus of The Davidian Seventh-day Adventists."--1 Answerer, pg. 38:2 (bolds, braces added). "And now, if any of them {Seventh-day Adventists} accept the additional message (Testimonies to Ministers, p. 106; Gospel Workers, p. 304), and desire to carry it to the laity, they may do so only under the direction of the present {SRod} message--the 'reorganization' spoken of in Christ Our Righteousness, 1941 Edition, p. 121."--4 Answerer Book, pgs. 18, 19. Most Seventh-day Adventists are "tares" who reject the SRod reorganization that seals the 144,000 (3 Test. 266:3). That is why Jesus rejected them as His people, and will send His angels to "burn" (Mt. 13:30)--slay them by the slaughter of Ezek. 9. Then He will take His reorganized saints (the 144,000) to His purified kingdom and call them "by another name" (Isa. 65:15). It is this pure church that will go through to the end for this reason: As already mentioned, God has never promised that the wicked "tares" will go through to the end with the saints. To teach otherwise is to teach pure Seventh-day Adventist tradition, which is worthless! |
PROPOSITION NO. 9
The Seventh-day Adventist Ministers and Leaders SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS HAVE"God has a CHURCH, AND SHE HAS A DIVINELY APPOINTED MINISTRY."--Testimonies to Ministers, page 52.
| It's true, God does have a "church"--Seventh-day Adventists, and "a divinely appointed ministry." Pastor Adams, however, is using the statement above to make his readers believe that he is one of these 'divinely appointed' ministers; and that they should, out of respect for him, reject the message of the SRod as he has done. But Pastor Adams does not tell his readers that most ministers have "turned back from following Christ their Leader and is steadily retreating toward Egypt"--worldliness (5 Test. 217:2). And that is why they rejected the SRod. This fact should cause the readers to study the SRod for themselves, because they cannot trust ministers who have "turned back"! |
"Men APPOINTED OF GOD have been chosen to watch with jealous care, with vigilant perseverance, that THE CHURCH may not be overthrown by the EVIL DEVICES OF SATAN."--Testimonies to Ministers, page 53.
| Pastor Adams wants his readers to believe that the "evil devices of Satan" is the message of the SRod. So he uses the statement above to make his readers believe that he is "appointed of God" to watch over the laity; and that as he rejected it, so they should do likewise. But he doesn't tell them that Jesus said the ministers are, "sleeping preachers preaching to a sleeping people." (2 Test. 337:1). This should cause the readers to wake up and study the SRod for themselves, because they cannot trust their "sleeping preachers"! |
"God SPEAKS THROUGH HIS APPOINTED AGENCIES, and let NO MAN, or confederacy of men, INSULT THE SPIRIT OF GOD by refusing to hear the message of God's word FROM THE LIPS OF HIS CHOSEN MESSENGERS. By refusing to hear the messenger of God, men close themselves in a chamber of darkness. They shut their own souls away from vast blessings, and rob Christ of the glory that should come to Him, BY SHOWING DISRESPECT TO HIS APPOINTED AGENCIES."--Testimonies to Ministers, page 54.
Pastor Adams misuses the statement above to make his readers believe that he and the other ministers like him are God's "appointed agencies." Since, however, they have rejected the SRod message, then it is obvious that his purpose is to make his readers feel that if they do not reject it, they are guilty of "refusing to hear these messengers"--Seventh-day Adventist ministers. The above reference, however, applies instead to Pastor Adams and those ministers like him who are guilty of "refusing to hear the messengers"--the prophetess Sis. White and the prophet Elijah, whom she said would come to the Seventh-day Adventist church with a message of truth (T.M. 475:3). When these ministers reject Elijah's message of the SRod, and when they misuse the writings of Sis. White to cause the laity to reject it, they are not only "showing disrespect to His appointed agencies," but they also "insult the Spirit of God"! They are the ministers whom Jesus described as "dumb dogs" (5 Test. 211:2), who reject His testimonies (5 Test. 217:2), and who teach their false doctrines, errors, and worthless traditions, when they "stand in our pulpits with the torch of false prophecy in their hands" (T.M. 409:3)! Who can deny that this is why Jesus will send His slaughtering angels of Ezek. 9 to slay both ministers and laity alike who reject Elijah's message of The Shepherd's Rod; because they say they "need...nothing" (Rev. 3:17)--need no more truth. |
"The WORST ENEMIES we have are those who are trying to destroy the influence of the WATCHMEN upon the walls of Zion."--Testimonies, Vol. 5, page 294.
It's obvious that Pastor Adams quoted the statement above to make his readers believe that the Davidians who teach the SRod message are the "worst enemies" to Seventh-day Adventist ministers (the watchmen). But since most ministers have "turned back from following Christ their Leader" (5 Test. 217:2), then this would make them the "worst enemies" to the church of God. And it would also make the true Davidian teachers of the SRod the faithful "watchmen" who cry against the abominations "fostered by those in responsible positions" (3 Test. 270:2)! This fact proves that the true Davidians are not trying to "destroy the influence" of the few faithful "watchmen." Instead, they hold up their hands, because they believe and teach the same truths as they do. But Jesus said that there will only be a "few great men" among these faithful "watchmen"! "Those who have trusted to intellect, genius, or talent, will not then stand {as leading watchmen} at the head of rank and file. They did not keep pace with the light {by rejecting Elijah's SRod message}. Those {ministers} who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the flock. In the last solemn work few great men {watchmen} will be engaged. They {the unfaithful} are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them."--Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 80:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). Jesus stated above that most ministers are "independent of God." They are the "dumb dogs" whom He "cannot use" to "bark" the warning to the laity to cry against the abominations, or die in the slaughter of Ezek. 9. Pastor Adams, however, wants his readers to believe that their "worst enemies" are the Davidians. Instead, the true Davidians are the "watchmen" whom God uses as His barking dogs to wake up the sleeping Laodiceans. And since Pastor Adams and all the other non-barking ministers like him (the "dumb dogs") are not doing this work, then would they not be counted by God as the "worst enemies" of His church? |
"Though human, and compassed with frailties of humanity, MEN ARE GOD'S MESSENGERS; and the dear saviour is grieved when so little is effected by their labours."--Testimonies, Vol. 5, page 300.
"There will be messages of ACCUSATION AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF GOD, SIMILAR TO THE WORK DONE BY
16SATAN IN ACCUSING GOD'S PEOPLE."--Testimonies To Ministers, page 42.
| Surely Pastor Adams knows the difference between the false accusations of the wicked (inspired by Satan), and the sighing and crying of the saints against the abominations (inspired by Jesus). Maybe not; or maybe he does know the difference. But rather than cry against the abominations in the Seventh-day Adventist church right along with the Davidians, he has chosen to write his brochure to falsely accuse them, and to deceitfully condemn Elijah's message of The Shepherd's Rod by misusing and misquoting Jesus' "testimony" in the writings of His prophetess (Sis. E. G. White)! His brochure, therefore, is condoning, rather than condemning (Mt. 13:28,29), the unChrist-like practice of those ministers who cast out the true and faithful Davidians from the Seventh-day Adventist church. And they do this, not because the Davidians have openly committed any particular sin, but because they "sigh and cry" (Ezek. 9:4) "for all the abominations that be done in the church" (3 Test. 267:1; 5 Test. 211:1). |
"They will DERIDE the order of the MINISTRY as a system of priestcraft."--Testimonies to Ministers, page 51.
It is very obvious that Pastor Adams quoted the above statement to make his readers believe that Davidians (by the message of the SRod) are deriding the "order of the ministry as a system of priestcraft." Since, however, the word "priestcraft" is not listed in the dictionary, then both words must be defined if we are to know what Sis. White meant. The word "priest" is defined as "one authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion esp. as a mediatory agent between man and God; specif:... Roman Catholic clergyman." And the word "craft" has three definitions," two of which are: (1) a "boat" and (2) an "occupation or trade." Since Sis. White did not connect the word "craft" to the word "priest" to mean that others are condemning the ownership of a "boat" or the knowledge of a "trade" by Seventh-day Adventist ministers, then she meant the third definition of the word "craft"--"skill in deceiving to gain an end." Coupled together, the definitions of these two words, "priest" and "craft," prove that Sis. White was condemning some in her day who said that the ministers of the Seventh-day Adventist church were acting as "mediatory agents between man and God," to copy the "order" of "priestcraft" that is practiced in the Catholic church, by which to deceive the laity for gain (money). The Davidians, however, were members of the church before they were cast out; and they know very well that the Seventh-day Adventist ministers are not priests who teach that they are mediators between man and God. Instead, they have always taught that Jesus is our mediator, not any man-priest. Therefore, Pastor Adams' misuse of the above statement (T.M. 51) about "priest-craft" against the Davidians, proves conclusively that it is an unjustifiable accusation which is totally false. And that is because the Davidians do not teach, nor are there any such quotations found anywhere in the message of the SRod that says the Seventh-day Adventist ministry is an "order" of "priestcraft." |
SHEPHERD'S ROD ASSERTS
They are Lying Ministers.
Blind Watchmen.
"If the warning has been given, why have MEN FROM THE PULPIT so persistently closed their eyes to the Word of the Most High, and opened their mouths in SPEAKING FABLES to their congregations, by declaring that they have all the truth and need neither message nor prophet? Has not this LYING AND HYPOCRISY paved the way for a wholesale deception in the church by strengthening their confidence in that they have need of nothing and are on the way to heaven"?--2 Shepherd's Rod, page 230.
"Despite SUCH UTTER BLINDNESS, the laity without questioning accepts the MINISTERS' decisions and considers these `poor,' watchmen of today as wise and true friends, and those who disobey their orders are `cast out.'"--Shepherd's Rod Tract "Final Warning," page 11.
(N.B.--A malicious charge against the leaders, the ministers. God has said that they will deride, make charges against the "order of the ministry." The Shepherd's Rod has fulfilled this prophecy. To make serious charges against the ministers is to take the first step toward apostasy and perdition. Read the following statement from the Spirit of prophecy:--
Before we can read his statement, let the readers understand that it was Jesus who accused the ministers (the angel--Rev. 1:20; S.L. 78) of being "blind" (Rev. 3:17)! Is Pastor Adams so "blind" that he would dare defy Jesus and say that His righteous charge is malicious? Would he deny the fact that these "blind" ministers are guilty of maliciously casting the Davidians out of the church? Doesn't he know that Jesus' "testimony" strictly forbids this evil practice? "The work of separation is given to the angels of God, and not committed into the hands of any man." (T.M. 47:2)! Surely, he knows the above statement by Elijah about the "blind" ministers who "cast out" the Davidians is true; because it was Jesus who commanded His minister "dogs" to "bark" a warning to the laity about the slaughter of Ezek. 9. But they refused to obey, and that is why He said they are "blind" leaders and "dumb dogs" (5 Test 211:1). And because the Davidians obey His command to be His watch "dogs" to "bark" against their abominations, Pastor Adams (above) falsely accuses the Davidians, the prophet Elijah, and also Jesus, as being liars who have made "malicious charges" against the ministers! And since Jesus said these "blind" leaders "knowest not that thou art...blind" (Rev. 3:17), then that is why Pastor Adams and the other ministers like him are blindly fighting the SRod. Now read his aforementioned statement by Sis. White: |
"Satan knows how to make his attacks. He works upon minds to excite jealousy and dissatisfaction toward THOSE AT THE HEAD OF THE WORK. The GIFTS are next questioned; then, of course, they have but little weight, and instruction given through vision is disregarded. NEXT follows skepticism in regard to the VITAL POINTS OF OUR FAITH, the pillars of our position. THEN doubt as to the Holy Scriptures, and THEN the downward march to PERDITION."--Testimonies, Vol. 5 page 672.--W.M.A.)
| Pastor Adams should know that it is not Davidians who are foremost
in making charges against the sins and abominations of Seventh-day Adventist ministers.
Indeed, no one has been more direct with greater severity in charges against them than Jesus
Christ! He is the One who said that they are "lukewarm" (Rev. 3:16)
and "poor, and blind, and naked" (Rev. 3:17). Jesus is the One who
spoke in His "testimony" (Rev. 19:10) through His prophetess (Sis. White), and
said that they are "sleeping preachers" (2 Test. 337:2) and "dumb
dogs" who preach "peace and safety" (5 Test. 211:2), that they are
"peddlers and traffickers" who violate the Sabbath by selling
their "merchandise" (1 Test. 471:2), that they make His "testimonies unread
and unappreciated" by the laity (5 Test. 217:2), that they "stand in our pulpits
with...the hellish torch of Satan" preaching their traditions and false
doctrines (T.M. 409, 410), that they claim to be "rich...and have need of nothing"--need
no more truth (Rev. 3:17; G.W. 310:4), and that they have rejected His prophet
Elijah (T.M. 475:3; 4 Tr 55:1)! Would Pastor Adams dare say that what Jesus told His prophetess (Sis. White) to write in His testimonies against these ministers is a lie? Would he dare say that it is "a malicious charge against the leaders and ministers"? Doesn't he know that John the Baptist called such leaders--the Pharisees in his day--a "generation of vipers" (Mt. 3:7)? Hasn't he read the Bible where Jesus pronounced a "woe" upon these "hypocrites" and called them "blind guides" (Mt. 23:14-16)? So why does Elijah's SRod message and the Davidians echo Jesus' true charges against these ministers and rebuke their sins? Because He commanded them to "sigh and cry against the abominations that be done in the church" (3 Test. 267:1). And when they "rebuke" the abominations of the ministers, Jesus said in His "testimony" that they "murmur in their hearts, if not openly, against those who would reprove sin. (3 Test. 267:1)! Let not the readers of his brochure murmur against Jesus' "rebuke" (Rev. 3:19) of these ministers, lest they become "tares" whom the angels slay--"burn" (Mt. 13:30). |
17
PROPOSITION NO. 10
The Slaughter of Ezekiel 9, When Will It Take Place? SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS TEACH"The triumph of the church is very near, the reward to be bestowed is almost within our reach, and yet iniquity is found among those who claim to have the full blaze of Heaven's light.
"He who presides over His church and the destinies of nations, is carrying forward the LAST WORK to be accomplished for this world. To His angels He gives the commission to execute His judgments. Let the ministers awake, let them take in the situation. The WORK OF JUDGMENT begins at the sanctuary....Read Eze. 9: 2-7. The command is, 'Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark.'"--"Testimonies to Ministers," pages 431, 432
(N.B.--The work of judgment begins at the sanctuary; following the judgment the command is given to "Slay utterly old and young." Note when the Spirit of Prophecy says the SLAUGHTER will take place.--W.M.A.)
"They will fall in the GENERAL DESTRUCTION OF THE WICKED, represented by the work of the five men bearing SLAUGHTER WEAPONS. Mark his point with care: Those who receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by a mark by the man in linen, are those 'that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done' in the church....Read the ninth chapter of Ezekiel."--Testimonies, Vol. 3, page 267.
Pastor Adams is teaching more Seventh-day Adventist tradition about the slaughter of Ezek. 9. It is not according to the "law and the testimony" (Isa. 8:20) "of Jesus" (Rev. 19:10); who "hath in these last days spoken unto us" (Heb. 1:2) in Sis. White's writings. She identified below those ministers who teach against this slaughter, as the "ancient men." And if Pastor Adams is one of these ancient men who does not believe the slaughter is for wicked Seventh-day Adventists; then it is very obvious that he is using Sis. White's two words, "GENERAL DESTRUCTION," to make his readers believe the slaughter is for the wicked in Babylon during the plagues, after the close of probation for the entire world. SDA TRADITION "The ancient men {Seventh-day Adventist ministers}, those to whom God had given great light, and who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for miracles {slaughter of Ezek. 9} and the marked manifestations of God's power as in former days {Old Testament}. Times have changed {New Testament}. These words strengthen their unbelief {in the slaughter of Ezek. 9} and they say: The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil {slay the tares}. He is too merciful to visit his people in judgment {slay the tares}. Thus peace and safety is the cry from men who will never again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God's people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs, that would not bark {warn Seventh-day Adventists, not those in Babylon}, are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children, all perish together {in the slaughter}."--5 Testimonies, pg. 211:2 (bold emphasis, braces added). SDA MINISTERS WHO ARE DUMB DOGS From what Jesus stated above in Sis. White's writings, it appears that Pastor Adams and other ministers like him, are the "ancient men" who do not believe the slaughter is for the wicked among Seventh-day Adventists. Jesus also identifies them by these two words, "dumb dogs." His purpose is not to belittle or ridicule, but to identify them as unfaithful ministers who refuse to "bark" and warn the laymembers. (The readers should also know that the use of these two words, "dumb dogs," in this composition by Bro. Don Adair is not to mock them, but used for identification purposes only.) Now since Pastor Adams wrote about the slaughter in his brochure, then he knows this truth. So if he is one of the "ancient men" noted above, and if he is a "dumb dog" who does not "bark," then he is preaching "peace and safety" in his brochure, saying to his readers: "Do not be afraid, the slaughter is not for Seventh-day Adventists; it is for the wicked in Babylon during the seven last plagues, after the probation closes for the entire world!" But if he does believe the slaughter is for Seventh-day Adventists, then he is placing it at the wrong time--during the plagues. Either way, he is "all wrong" (3 Test. 253:0) for these reasons: Sis. White said that the "work of judgment begins at the sanctuary....Read Ezekiel 9:2-7" (T.M. 431:3); because Ezekiel said, "and begin at My sanctuary" (Ezek. 9:6). That is why she said, "Here we see that the church--the Lord's sanctuary--was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God" (5 Test. 211:2); and why Peter (1 Pet. 4:17) said the same thing: "For the time is come that judgment {to slay the wicked 'tares'} must begin at the house of God"--Seventh-day Adventist church! Since the Lord's "sanctuary" is His "house," then this fact proves conclusively that the slaughter of Ezek. 9 is not for the saints but for the wicked in the Seventh-day Adventist church; because God's people do not "constitute Babylon, or any part of Babylon" (T.M. 37, 37). There are other obvious reasons, as noted below: "The five angels that destroy {slay} the wicked in the {Seventh-day Adventist} church are not forces of nature but men {angels} with slaughter weapons in their hands. They are supernatural beings, not natural elements. Hence they cannot fittingly represent earthquakes, famines, or the like."--2 Answerer Book, pgs. 42, 43 (bold emphasis, braces added). "Neither can they {five angels} be the seven angels with the seven last plagues, for these angels {who pour out the plagues} are seven in number, not five {angels who execute the slaughter of Ezek. 9}. Furthermore, they {seven angels} do not have 'slaughter weapons' in their hands, but vials {Rev. 16:1}. Still further, the plagues fall in Babylon (Rev. 18:4), whereas the slaughter of Ezekiel 9 takes place in Judah and Israel (Ezek. 9:9) {Seventh-day Adventist church--9 Test. 164:1}."--2 Answerer Book, pg. 43:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). SDA TRADITION In Pastor Adam's previous comments in his brochure he said, "(Note when the Spirit of Propecy says the SLAUGHTER will take place.--W.M.A.)." His purpose, of course, is to make his readers believe that the quotation below about the "general destruction," refers to the slaughter of Ezek. 9, which is to slay the wicked people in Babylon during the seven last plagues. |
"But the GENERAL SLAUGHTER of all those who do not thus see the wide contrast between sin and righteousness, and do not feel as those do who stand in the counsel of God and receive the mark, is described in the order to the five men with SLAUGHTER WEAPONS."--Testimonies, Vol. 3, page 267.
Sis. White wrote above that there will be a "general destruction" of Seventh-day Adventists by the "five men {angels} with slaughter weapons," after the 144,000 are sealed (3 Test. 266, 267). But Pastor Adams wants his readers to believe that this "general destruction" occurs during the seven last plagues, after the close of probation for the entire world. Sis. White uses these same two words in another statement, but Pastor Adams does not quote it, because it contradicts his worthless tradition. Find out why by reading below what she said in regard to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70 (G.C. 26:0); and His earlier command to the Christians (Mt. 24:15,16) to flee at that time: "Those {Christians} who were working in the field or vineyards must not take time to return for the outer garment laid aside while they should be toiling in the heat of the day. They must not hesitate a moment, lest they be involved in the general destruction {of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70}."--Great Controversy, pg. 26:0 (bold emphasis, braces added). Any Seventh-day Adventist knows that when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70, and killed the Jews in the "general destruction" (as Sis. White plainly stated in G.C. 26:0), it was not the time after the final close of probation for the entire world, when angels poured out the seven last plagues upon Babylon. Therefore, they would also know that the same two words "general destruction" (3 Test. 267:1) does not mean the seven last plagues either, as Pastor Adams would have his readers believe. Surely he knows that the meaning of these two words, general destruction, is specifically clarified in the same paragraph, which he did not quote, because he couldn't use them to prove his idea. In that paragraph below Jesus is questioning the General Conference leaders who claim to be the "counsel of God." He asks them if they "excuse" sin and "murmur" against reprovers; if so, then they are not the "counsel of God." And He warns them that when the wicked are slain by the Ezek. 9 slaughter, these leaders also die in that "general destruction"! "Who are standing in the counsel of God at this time? Is it those {General Conference leaders} who virtually excuse the wrongs {abominations} among the professed people of God and who murmur in their hearts, if not openly, against those {Davidians} who would reprove sin? Is it those who take their stand against them {the Davidians} and sympathize with those {wicked tares} who commit wrong? No, indeed! Unless they {the General Conference leaders who claim to be the council of God} repent, and leave the work of Satan in oppressing those {Davidians--cast them out} who have the burden of the work and {leave the work of Satan} in holding up the hands of sinners in Zion {SDA church}, they will never receive the mark of God's sealing approval. They will fall {be killed by the five angels of Ezek. 9} in the general destruction of the wicked {laymembers}."--3 Testimonies, pg. 267:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). "The definition of 'general' is: 'extensive but not universal.' Therefore, it {the words general destruction} does not mean the {universal} destruction {of the wicked in Babylon during the seven last plagues or} of the world at the appearance of the Lord; but it has reference to the {extensive destruction of the} wicked in the {Seventh-day Adventist} church. This slaughter {by the five angels} is literal; it is to separate and release God's people from sin and sinners; otherwise the marking would be of no value."--2 Shepherd's Rod book, pg. 165:2 (bold emphasis, braces added). When Jesus said in His "testimony" (Rev. 19:10)-- "general destruction" (G.C. 26:0), He did not mean the seven last plagues; so the same applies to His other statement (3 Test. 267:1). Therefore, if any Seventh-day Adventist should teach that the two words "general destruction" designates the seven last plagues, as Pastor Adams does in his brochure, he is teaching "private interpretation" (2 Pet. 1:20; 1 T.G. 14:16); which is not only false doctrine, but also worthless tradition! SDA TRADITION And there are other "dumb dog" ministers (5 Test. pg. 211) who disbelieve Jesus' testimony that He will purify the Seventh-day Adventist church by the slaughter of Ezek. 9. They teach the worthless tradition that the church will be purified by the Sunday blue law, which they say will drive the tares out. This spurious doctrine can easily be proven to be false by asking them a few simple questions: "Who put the 'wheat' (saints) in the Seventh-day Adventist church"? And they must say, "The Lord did." "Who put the wicked 'tares' into the church?" And they must say, "The devil did (C.O.L. 71:0)." "Who instituted the Sabbath to worship the Lord?" And they must say, "The Lord did (Ex. 20:8)." "Who instituted Sunday to worship the Devil?" And they must say, "The devil did." "So is it God or the Devil that makes the Sunday blue law?" And they must say, "The devil." Now ask them this last question: "If the devil put the tares into the Seventh-day Adventist church, then why would he make a Sunday law to drive them out?" And they can't answer, because they know that the Devil wants to keep the tares in God's church; and they also know that these "tares" will never voluntarily leave the church. These facts prove that the Devil will not make a Sunday law, and then enforce it with a death decree to drive the tares out of God's church. And that is the obvious reason why He must send His angels to take them out of His church by the slaughter of Ezek. 9. SDA TRADITION And there are other "dumb dog" ministers who preach "peace and safety" (5 Test. 211:2) because they do not believe Jesus' testimony of warning about the slaughter of Ezek. 9 for Seventh-day Adventists; and they teach their worthless tradition that the slaughter is spiritual, in spite of the fact that Jesus stated in His testimony that it is a literal slaughter! "Study the 9th chapter of Ezekiel. These words {about angels who kill the wicked in the Seventh-day Adventist church} will be literally fulfilled; yet the time is passing, and the people {not those in Babylon} are asleep."--1 Manuscript Releases, pg. 260:2 (boldings, braces added). "This slaughter {to kill Seventh-day Adventists} is literal; it is to separate and release God's people from sin and sinners; otherwise the marking would be of no value."--2 Shepherd's Rod, pg. 165 (bold emphasis, braces added). The "dumb dog" ministers do not believe Jesus' testimony in Sis. White's writings (5 Test. 211, 217); and they deny the truth that the angels will literally kill the bodies of all Seventh-day Adventists who are hypocritical "tares." And that is the reason why they try to fool the laity into believing that the slaughter is spiritual! "And only those {dumb-dog ministers} who say {5 Test. 211:2}, 'We need not look for miracles {the slaughter of Ezekiel 9 for Seventh-day Adventists} and the marked manifestation of God's power as in former days,' think the slaughter is not literal."--2 Answerer Book, pg. 44:1 (bold emphasis, braces added by author). "The {literal} wrath of God cannot, and never has been spiritual."--2 Shepherd's Rod, pg. 165:2 (bold emphasis, braces added). "And as the {seven last} plagues are literal, then how can the slaughter {of Ezek. 9} be any less literal?"--2 Answerer Book, pg. 43:2 (bold emphasis, braces added). "Now to their own destruction, men {the dumb-dog ministers} argue that this {slaughter of Ezekiel 9} is a spiritual slaughter, (What is a spiritual slaughter?--no one knows.)"--1 Timely Greetings, No. 45, pg. 18:3--by VTH (bold emphasis, braces added). Jesus said, "Except a man be born again {spiritually}, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (Jn. 3:3). But the millions of wicked "tares" brought into the Seventh-day Adventist church by the "sleeping preachers" (2 Test. 337) are not born again. They are spiritually dead and reject the "mark" (Ezek. 9:4) or the "seal" (Rev. 7:4) to escape the slaughter (Ezek. 9:6). But the few saints (wheat) in God's church are the born again Christians. They are spiritually alive and receive the mark to escape the literal slaughter. But some "dumb dog" ministers say the literal slaughter is spiritual. This spurious teaching can easily be proven to be a false doctrine by asking them a few simple questions: "Who is working to keep the born again saints in the Seventh-day Adventist church spiritually alive?--God or the Devil?" And they must answer, "God is." "Who is working to keep the wicked 'tares' in the SDA church spiritually dead?--God or the Devil?" And they must answer, "The Devil is." These answers prove that it is not the work of the Lord, but the work of the Devil that causes the great majority of Seventh-day Adventists to become spiritually dead, because they are "tares" who love the "things that are in the world" (1 Jn. 2:15). "The tares represent a class who are the fruit or embodiment of error, or false principles. 'The enemy that sowed them is the Devil.' Neither God nor His angels ever sowed a seed that would produce a tare. The {spiritually dead} tares are always sown by Satan, the enemy of God and man."--Christ's Object Lessons, pg. 71:0 (bold emphasis, braces added). "In the last vision given me, I was shown the startling fact that but a small portion of those {SDA} who now profess the truth will be sanctified by it and be saved {and even less saved today, since they are more worldly}. Many will get above the simplicity of the work. They {SDA} will conform to the world {which they love}, cherish idols, and become spiritually dead {by the work of Satan, not by the work of God}."--1 Testimonies, pgs. 608, 609 (bold emphasis, braces added). "The {Seventh-day Adventist} church has turned back from following Christ their Leader and is steadily retreating toward Egypt"--worldliness {which they love}"--5 Testimonies, pg. 217:2 (bold emphasis, braces added). "The class of professed Sabbath keepers who try to form a union between Christ and Belial,...take hold of the truth with one hand and of the world {which they love} with the other,...Their names are on the church books."--5 Testimonies, pg. 52:2 (boldings, braces added). "But this in itself will not profit you {SDA ministers and laity} if your soul is languishing in darkness {Rev. 3:17}, if you are spiritually dead and do not know it."--2 Timely Greetings, No. 37, pg. 12:0 (bolds, braces added). The facts in the foregoing quotations prove that the slaughter of Ezek. 9 is literal, and cannot be spiritual for these two obvious reasons: (1) The Lord would not send His angels to slay the 144,000 saints and those "with" them, because they are spiritually alive. (2) It is obvious, therefore, that He would send His angels to literally slay the physical bodies of the wicked (tares), because they are all spiritually dead! PROVE THE SLAUGHTER IS NOT SPIRITUAL You can prove that the slaughter is not spiritual but literal by the use of four books; try it and see for yourself: First, take book (1) and place it on the top of a table (left side) to represent the physical bodies of the wicked. And take another book (2) and place it on top of the same table (right side) to represent the physical bodies of the saints. Then take the other book (3) and place it on top of the saints body, book (2), on the right side of the table to show that the saints are born again--spiritually alive. Now the saints have two books--book (2) for the birth of their physical bodies, and book (3) for their spiritual birth. No other book is placed on book (1)--the bodies of the wicked, because they are spiritually dead. Now take the last book (4) in your right hand to represent the angels, the "reapers" (Mt. 13:30,39) who will "burn" (kill) the "tares," and bring it toward the wicked bodies--book (1) on the left side of table, as if to slay them; and see what answers you readers have for the following two questions: "How can the slaughtering angels of Ezek. 9 spiritually slay the wicked tares of the Devil, if they are already spiritually dead? What else is there for these angels of the Lord to slay but their literal bodies?" "The same subject {the literal slaughter} is again brought to view in 'Testimonies for the Church,' Vol. 5, page 211: 'Here we see that the church--the Lord's sanctuary--was the first to feel the stroke {the literal slaughter of their bodies} of the wrath of God.' The wrath of God cannot, and never has been spiritual."--2 Shepherd's Rod book, pg. 165:2 (bolds, braces added). You see? These hypocritical "dumb dog" ministers are blaspheming God! They are not true Seventh-day Adventist ministers, and they should voluntarily get out of the church. If they do not, then the angels of God will be forced to slay their physical bodies; because they falsely accuse the work of God (which quickens 144,000 Seventh-day Adventist to become spiritually alive) to be the work of the Devil (who makes them become spiritually dead). It means they are saying the Holy Spirit works to cause Seventh-day Adventists to become spiritually alive; and then afterwards God the Father sends His angels to spiritually slay them dead! Blasphemy indeed, to say that the Father and the Holy Spirit are working counter to each others interests! True Seventh-day Adventist not only know that both the Holy Spirit and the Lord work together to give spiritual life to the saints--"wheat" (Mt. 13:25); but they also know that the Holy Spirit does not make them spiritually alive so the Lord can send His angels to slay them spiritually dead! Neither would the Holy Spirit or the Lord make the mistake of giving spiritual life to the wicked "tares"; because they are not put into the SDA church by the Holy Spirit, but by the "sleeping preachers" (2 Test. 337) of the Devil (C.O.L. 71:0). It is he who causes these spiritually dead and "blind" (Rev. 3:17) hypocrites to fight against the SRod message! The "tares" are put into the Seventh-day Adventist church by the Devil, not by the Holy Spirit; and they are always spiritually dead! In the probationary "harvest" time (Mt. 13:30), the angels are to "burn" (kill) them, because they refuse to reform or voluntarily get out of God's church. Therefore, what else can His angels do but literally slay their physical bodies, since they are already spiritually dead! Whereas the faithful saints are spiritually alive by the work of the Holy Spirit; thus, the angels do not slay their physical bodies! These facts prove irrefutably that the "dumb dog" ministers (5 Test. 211:2) are "all wrong" (3 Test. 253:0), because they lie to the laity (Isa. 28:14,15) and tell them that the slaughter is not literal but is spiritual. Therefore, both the blind leaders and laymembers who follow them "shall fall into the ditch" (Mt. 15:14)--die in the slaughter of Ezekiel 9. And that is the obvious reason why Jesus stated in His "testimony" (Rev. 19:10) through His prophetess, Sis. White, who wrote that they shall be "brought down to hell" (Isa. 14:15)--put into the "grave" (Isa. 14:9, see margin)! "And thou Capernaum [Seventh-day Adventists who have had great light], which art exalted unto heaven [in point of privilege], shalt be brought down to hell {die in the slaughter of Ezek. 9 and put into graves}: for if the mighty works, which had been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee {Mt. 11:23, 24}."--Review and Herald, Aug. 1, 1893, pg. 68--by EGW (brackets [ ] belong to quotation). (bold emphasis, braces { } were added). Since the brackets were added to the above verse (Mt. 11:23, 24) by Jesus in Sis. White's writings, then its meaning is incontrovertible: Capernaum today represents the Seventh-day Adventist church whose wicked "tares" will be "brought down to hell" the grave (Isa. 14:9--margin), when they die in the slaughter of Ezek. 9! Would the "dumb dog" ministers dare say that Jesus and Sis. White are both liars? Will they continue to refuse to "bark" Jesus' warning to the laity about the coming slaughter of angels to slay physical bodies? SDA TRADITION There are other "dumb dog" ministers (5 Test. 211:2) who try to deceive the laity by another worthless tradition. Here is the statement they use to mean the time of the seven last plagues (which Pastor Adams says is the "GENERAL DESTRUCTION"): "Now the angel of death goes forth, represented in Ezekiel's vision by the men with the slaughtering weapons, to whom the command is given: 'Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women...'" --Great Controversy, pg. 656:2. They try to make it appear that the slaughter of Ezek. 9 does not slay Seventh-day Adventists, but occurs during the seven last plagues, which "are the judgments that fall upon Babylon in the day of the visitation of God's wrath" (G.C. 653:3). And since the Seventh-day Adventist church is not Babylon (T.M. 36, 37), then the plagues do not fall on God's church. This obvious fact proves that the ministers have misapplied the meaning of this statement (G.C. 656), for the following reasons: "The slaughter of Ezekiel 9 is positively not the same as the seven last plagues (Rev. 16), because the plagues fall on Babylon, but the slaughter, {falls} on Judah and Jerusalem {Seventh-day Adventist church}."--1 Timely Greetings, No. 3, pg. 12:6 (bold emphasis, braces added). "The slaughter as described in Ezekiel's prophecy takes the lives of only those wicked who are in 'the house of Israel and Judah' (Ezek. 9:9)--the {Seventh-day Adventist} church; whereas the destruction of the {seven last} plagues falls upon all {the wicked} who are found in 'Babylon' (Rev. 18:4)..."--3 Answerer book, pg. 43 (bold emphasis, braces added). "Neither can they {5 angels} be the seven angels with the seven last plagues, for these angels are seven in number, not five. Furthermore, they {7 angels} do not have 'slaughter weapons' in their hands, but vials. Still further, the plagues fall in Babylon (Rev. 18:4), whereas the slaughter of Ezekiel 9 takes place in Judah and Israel (Ezek. 9:9) {SDA church}."--2 Answerer Book, pg. 43:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). Pastor Adams quoted Sis. White below who said, "the general destruction of the wicked" is executed by "five men bearing slaughter weapons" of Ezek. 9; but note that he said, "when probation is ended." He added these words, of course, to make his readers believe that the slaughter is executed during the seven last plagues. But the statement of Sis. White that he is using (3 Test. 267) about the "general destruction," begins on the previous page (3 Test. 266), wherein she says, "the closing work for the church, in the sealing time of the one hundred and forty-four thousand" (3 Test. 266:2) who are sealed in the Seventh-day Adventist church, not sealed in Babylon. Thus, the continuity of the two pages prove that on page 266 the 144,000 are sealed, then probation is closed for the Seventh-day Adventist church, and the wicked are slain by angels! On page 267 it continues with the General Conference leaders who claim to be the "counsel of God." They must "repent" or die in the "general destruction of the wicked"--slaughter of Ezek. 9. But Pastor Adams ignores page 266 about the 144,000 being sealed, and tries to make it appear that page 267 applies to the seven last plagues for Babylon. This is wrong, because the 144,000 are sealed in God's church, not in Babylon! Now you see why he ignored page 266. |
"But the GENERAL SLAUGHTER of all those who do not thus see the wide contrast between sin and righteousness, and do not feel as those do who stand in the counsel of God and receive the mark, is described in the order to the five men with SLAUGHTER WEAPONS."--Testimonies, Vol. 3, page 267.
(N.B.--The above is a clear statement that the "general slaughter" by the five men of Ezekiel 9 is "The destruction of the wicked" when probation is ended. Now note with care the following quotation from: "Great Controversy," page 656.--W.M.A.)
"For six thousand years the great controversy has been in progress; the Son of God and His heavenly messengers have been in conflict with the power of the evil one, to warn, enlighten, and save the children of men. NOW ALL HAVE MADE THEIR DECISION; the wicked have fully united with Satan in his warfare against God."
| The words, "now all have made their decision" applies to those in Babylon when probation closes for the world; then they die in the seven last plagues. But this is after the wicked in God's church have already made their decision and died in the slaughter of Ezek. 9. Pastor Adams confuses one "decision" made by the wicked in the Seventh-day Adventist church with the later "decision" made by the wicked in Babylon! |
"The mark of deliverance has been set upon those `that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done.' NOW THE ANGEL OF DEATH GOES FORTH, represented in Ezekiel's vision by THE MEN WITH THE SLAUGHTERING WEAPONS, to whom the command is given: `slay utterly old and young,'" etc.
"As in The Great Controversy, p. 656, only an indirect parallel can be drawn between the slaughter of Ezekiel 9 and the falling of the {seven last} plagues, because a common end (death) befalls both the wicked in the church of Laodicea and the wicked in the churches of Babylon."--2 Answerer Book, pg. 44:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). The quotation above about G.C. 656 shows that the slaughter of Ezek. 9 does not apply strictly to Babylon during the seven last plagues, as Pastor Adams says; but a "common end (death)" befalls both those in the Seventh-day Adventist church (slaughter of Ezek. 9), and those in Babylon (seven last plagues) by the "angel of death" (G.C. 656:2)! Two facts prove this is true: (1) The angels slay the wicked in "Judah and Israel" (Ezek. 9:9)--the Seventh-day Adventist church; but the plagues slay the wicked in Babylon. (2) The five angels (Ezek. 9:5), not seven, slay Seventh-day Adventists (Ezek. 9:2) after their probation closes; but seven angels, not five, slay those in Babylon by their "vials" of plagues (Rev. 16:1), after probation closes for the entire world. Pastor Adams wants his readers to believe that there is no difference between the cities of Judah and Babylon, and between five and seven angels; which makes it appear that when the Lord put them in the Bible, He didn't understand the difference either! In the days of Moses (Ex. 12:29) the wicked in Egypt "made their decision," and "the destroying angel was bidden to slay the firstborn of man and beast among the Egyptians" (D.A. 51:3). And as this was a close of probation for the wicked Egyptians; so there will not only be a close of probation for the wicked Seventh-day Adventists who have "made their decision." And there will also be a close of probation for the wicked in Babylon who have also "made their decision." |
(N.B.--The above quotation from Mrs. E. G. White writings states in plain language that "all HAVE MADE THEIR DECISION" before THE MEN WITH THE SLAUGHTERING WEAPONS are commanded to "Slay utterly old and young." Thus Ezekiel 9 teaches that probation for ALL is for ever past when "THE GENERAL SLAUGHTER,' "the general destruction of the wicked," INCLUDING THE "SINNERS IN ZION," begins. This "general slaughter" marks the close of probation, the end of sin, and "THE TRIUMPH OF THE CHURCH."--W.M.A.)
| Pastor Adams stated above that the "general slaughter marks the close of probation," which he already stated is during the seven last plagues for sinners in Babylon. But here he says it includes the "sinners in Zion." This is worthless tradition; for the plagues fall on Babylon (Rev. 18:4), not on Zion, where the 144,000 stand (Rev. 14:1). So why does the General Conference and ministers fight so hard against the slaughter of Ezek. 9 for Seventh-day Adventists? There are several reasons: (1) Jesus said (5 Test. 211:2) the ministers do not believe God's angels will slay the wicked in His church. (2) They do not want others to know about the abominations in the church, which the Davidians cry against (Ezek. 9:4; 3 Test. 267:1). (3) They do not want others to know that there are wicked people in God's church. (4) They do not want these facts known by other Protestant churches who keep Sunday, because they would use it to discredit and ridicule Sis. White's writings about the slaughter of Ezek. 9. (5) And they would warn their members not to join the Seventh-day Adventist church, because it is full of wicked members who practice their abominations, and whom God's angels will slay! |
SHEPHERD'S ROD ASSERTS
Seventh-day Adventist Leaders Slaughtered
While There is Silence in Heaven.
The slaughter is Before the "Loud Cry"
Or Before Probation is Closed.
"`And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write:...I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I WILL SPUE [emphasis author's] thee out of My mouth.' Rev. 3:14-16. Note that the existence of the present name--`Seventh-day Adventist'--is CONDITIONAL, otherwise the name will be spued out of His mouth. `And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto My chosen [the 144,000]: for the Lord God shall slay thee, and call His servants by another name.' Isa. 65:16."--1 Shepherd's Rod, pages 100,101
Perhaps Pastor Adams does not know that Jesus said in His "testimony" that the "angel" of the "candlestick" (Rev. 1:20) of Laodicea is the "stars"--the ministers (S.L. 78:0) of the Seventh-day Adventist church? And maybe he doesn't know that they are "lukewarm" and need no more truth--"have need of nothing" (Rev. 3:17; G.W. 300:3)? Isn't that why the General Conference rejected the message of righteousness by faith in 1888? and the message of the SRod in 1929? Isn't that the very reason why Pastor Adams wrote his brochure against the SRod? and why he and the other ministers like him are "dumb dogs" who have refused to accept the message of Elijah (Bro. Houteff) and "bark" the warning of the slaughter of Ezek. 9 to the members of God's church? If he does know, then he should know why Jesus will "spue" (spit) out of His mouth all the "lukewarm" members of His church. And since Jesus would never put the spit back into His mouth, then this means these "lukewarm" ministers and laymembers are lost. And that, of course, is the reason why they will die by the slaughter weapons in the hands of the angels in Ezek. 9, except they repent! |
"There is no one to go by the old name, for the ONES who were not worthy of having the new name HAVE PERISHED under the figure of the five men with the SLAUGHTERING WEAPONS of Ezekiel 9."--1 Shepherd's Rod, page 155
"While Laodiceans are shaken out (spued) BY DESTRUCTION, God takes charge of the flock Himself."--1 Shepherd's Rod, page 222.
"Had the church as a body, or at least the LEADERS OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST DENOMINATION ACCEPTED the message of reform as PRESENTED TO THEM IN `The Shepherd's Rod,' Vol. 1,there would be no necessity for THAT CLASS TO FALL by the figure of the five men with the SLAUGHTER WEAPONS."--1 Shepherd's Rod, page 218.
"Thus the silence of half an hour points forward to this great event for the church of God. Its fulfillment would bring us to the time of the harvest, or as it is called, The LOUD CRY of the Third Angel's Message of Revelation 18. THE LAST MESSAGE FOR THE WORLD. Thus, while the five men with the SLAUGHTER WEAPONS are taking away those represented by the TARES within the church, there will be silence in heaven for about half an hour (seven days)."--1 Shepherd's Rod, page 217.
"Both the sealing and the SLAUGHTER ARE IN GOD'S CHURCH, and NOT in Babylon or in the world. IT IS ONLY IN JERUSALEM, and Judah, the house of Israel (the CHURCH). `Judah' in verse 9, refers to THOSE IN OFFICE.
20...There is not a thought about the world or the ungodly. When the marking (sealing) is finished, the five men with the SLAUGHTER WEAPONS begin with the ancient men which were before the house, meaning the GUARDIANS OF THE SPIRITUAL INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE."--1 Shepherd's Rod, pages 29,30.
(N.B.--Here is the teaching of the Shepherd's Rod on Ezekiel 9 and the Laodicean message concerning the "slaughter" in a nutshell:--
The Shepherd's Rod asserts that the slaughter takes place in the church and not in the world, and that the Laodiceans are spued out "BY DESTRUCTION." That is, certain ones, "the leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination" "have perished" by the slaughter weapons of the five men of Ezekiel 9. Now while the "leaders" are being slaughtered, what do they teach takes place in heaven? The Shepherd's Rod teaches that "there will be silence in heaven" "while the five men" of Ezekiel 9, are "slaughtering" the "leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination"; or, as it is stated in other words: "While the five men with SLAUGHTER WEAPONS are taking away those represented by the TARES within the church, THERE WILL BE SILENCE IN HEAVEN" "for about half an hour (seven days)."
The reason given, by the Shepherd's Rod, for the "slaughter," is because the leaders have not "accepted the message of reform as presented to them in `The Shepherd's Rod.'" If they would accept "there would be no necessity for THAT CLASS TO FALL by the figure of the five men with SLAUGHTER WEAPONS." When the slaughter is finished, according to their teaching, then the "Loud Cry"--a great soul-winning work, begins, giving "the last message to the world."
| Pastor Adams mentions "the figure of the five men," which the Bible says are the "others" (Ezek. 9:5) who execute the slaughter. It was Jesus who used that word "figure" in His testimony (3 Test. 266:2), which means that the "five men" are angels, as noted in the Bible. In the account of the "two angels" (Gen. 19:1) who came to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, they were called "men" (Gen. 19:5). And the angel Gabriel (D.A. 99:1) was called "the man Gabriel" (Dan. 9:21). Also, Jesus said in His testimonies that "His angels" are "men" (T.M. 431:3). These facts prove that the slaughter is not executed by seven angels with "vials" (Rev. 16:1), but by five men, "the others" (Ezek. 9:5), who are a "figure" of literal angels. They will slay wicked Seventh-day Adventists who did not get the "mark" (Ezek. 9:4) or the "seal" (Rev. 7:4) to escape the slaughter. |
But as we have seen, the Seventh-day Adventists teach that probation is closed, that "all have made their decision" before the command is given the five men with the slaughtering weapons to slay utterly old and young. When that "slaughter takes place it marks the end of sin and the triumph of the church." Thus we see another marked CONTRADICTION of the Shepherd's Rod teachings concerning Ezekiel 9, and the
21Seventh-day Adventist teaching. The "silence in heaven" of Revelation will take place at the coming of Christ, when "all the holy angels" come with Him. There is no likeness or compromise with the Shepherd's Rod contradictory teachings.--W.M.A.)
Once again, Pastor Adams stated above that what he wrote in his brochure is "Seventh-day Adventist teaching," but it is worthless tradition; because it is not according "to the law and to the testimony" (Isa. 8:20), for this reason: He said there is "silence in heaven," but he ignored the important fact that it occurred when Jesus "opened the seventh seal" (Rev. 8:1). That seventh seal is one of the seven seals in the "book" which was in the hand of God the Father who "sat on the throne" (Rev. 5:1); of which Jesus "the Lamb" (Rev. 5:6) who stood "near before Him" (Dan. 7:13) and "in the midst of the throne" (Rev. 5:6), "took the book out" of His hand (Rev. 5:7). This is the Lamb's book of life which contains the names of all the saints, which Jesus opened in 1844 with the first seal containing the names of "those who first lived upon the earth...and closes with the living" (G.C. 483:1), which began the judgment of the dead. "For many years this work has been in progress {since 1844}. Soon--none know how soon--it will pass to the cases of the living." (G.C. 490:1). Therefore, those saints whose names are listed in the first six seals of the judgment, but have died, will be judged during the judgment of the dead beginning in 1844. Then when Jesus opens the "seventh seal" (Rev. 8:1), the last seal in the latter days when the saints are still living, it begins the judgment of the living for the saints in the Seventh-day Adventist church, which occurs before the final close of probation for the entire world. Now if, as Pastor Adams stated above, the "silence in heaven" is to "take place at the coming of Christ," then it means probation has already closed for the entire world, and the seven last plagues were poured out on Babylon (Rev. 16:1). This makes it impossible for the latter-day saints to be sealed during the "seventh seal" (Rev. 8:1), because no one can be sealed after probation has closed, or during the plagues, much less after Jesus comes again! These facts prove that while Pastor Adams is trying to make the SRod's teachings of the "silence in heaven" (Rev. 8:1) appear contradictory to Seventh-day Adventist tradition, he has instead contradicted the time when Jesus opens the seventh seal. This cannot be at His second advent, but when the judgment passes from the dead to the cases of the living! Thus, when the "seventh seal" is opened, there is "silence in heaven about the space of half an hour" (Rev. 8:1). And computing a "day for a year" (Ezek. 4:6), the "half hour" equates to about seven days (2 S.R. 216:2), during which time the angels in Ezek. 9:6 slay the wicked in the Seventh-day Adventist church! It is obvious, then, that Pastor Adams is confused and doesn't know the difference between the two probations: (1) The close of probation for the wicked in the Seventh-day Adventist church, who will die by the slaughter of Ezek. 9 during the "silence in heaven," when the judgment of the dead closes and the judgment of the living begins. (2) The final close of probation for the wicked in the entire world (Babylon), who die by the seven last plagues. Thus, it is not the SRod that's contradictory, but Pastor Adams' worthless tradition that directly contradicts the Bible. If he and ministers like him were honest, they would not teach their worthless tradition to the laity. Instead, they would warn them, as do the Davidians by the SRod message, to repent of their abominations (Ezek. 9:4), and receive the seal to escape the slaughter of Ezek. 9. |
The foregoing statements, quoted from the writings of the Shepherd's Rod, are only a few of the inconsistencies of Mr. V. T. Houteff's teachings. He repeatedly flatly contradicts the writings and teachings of the Seventh-day Adventists. Below are a few presented in a condensed form.
| Pastor Adams is "all wrong" (3 Test. 253:0)! The SRod does not "flatly contradict" the true doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventist church; but it most definitely contradicts their worthless tradition. Pastor Adams has noted below some of their traditions, which have already been answered by the Bible, by Jesus in His "testimony" (the writings of Sis. White), and by the truth in Elijah's message of the SRod (Mic. 6:9)! |
SEVENTH-DAY
ADVENTISTS
THE
SHEPHERD'S ROD
1. What is the beast of Revelation 13?
S.D.A.
Shepherd's Rod
"Represents the Papacy."
That "is altogether wrong."
2. By whom was the papal head wounded?
S.D.A.
Shepherd's
Rod
By "the French Army"--in 1798.
"By Martin Luther"--1500.
3. What is the Seal of God?
S.D.A.
Shepherd's Rod
"Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment." It
"is not a Sabbath Seal."
4. What is the Harvest of Matthew 13?
S.D.A.
Shepherd's Rod
"The end of probationary time." It "is the Loud Cry."
S.D.A.
Shepherd's Rod
After "all have made their decision," then "the
Before the Loud Cry the "slaughter" of the angel of death goes forth,"
"represented in
the "leaders of the Seventh-day Adventists" by
Ezekiel's vision," "the general destruction of
the "five men" of Ezekiel 9 takes place. Then
the the wicked," when probation for ALL is closed.
the Loud Cry begins. Probation for all is not
closed.
Church Membership
QUESTION:
Can it be made to appear that such flagrant contradictions by the Shepherd's Rod teachings is "pure Seventh-day Adventist doctrine"? To the honest, fair-minded, humble person who believes the teaching of the Seventh-day Adventists, there is only one answer:--
NO, DECIDEDLY, NO
Such flat contradictory statements made by the Shepherd's Rod can never be reconciled with the teaching of the Seventh-day Adventists. Yet, notwithstanding such heresy and errors effort, in harmony with Christ's instruction should be made to win the wayward, deceived ones back to God. But when this has been done "He who rejects this united overture has broken the tie that binds him to Christ, and THUS HAS SEVERED HIMSELF FROM THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE CHURCH. Henceforth, said Jesus, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.'"
| In 1844 the Seventh-day Adventist church was blessed with much truth. But in time they began to teach their traditions (as did the Jews), which they think is truth. In 1929 Jesus sent Elijah with the SRod message, which the leaders rejected. In 1934 a "committee" was "appointed" (one member was Pastor Adams); and they voted against the SRod, because it contains (as he wrote in his brochure), "flat contradictory statements" not in harmony with "Seventh-day Adventist teachings." And since they see that the truth of Elijah's message cannot be "reconciled" with their traditions, they cry out: "beware of false prophets"! Therefore those who cling to their traditions and reject truth are loosed on earth and in heaven; while those who reject tradition and accept the truth, are bound on earth and in heaven. |
"'Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.'"--Desire of Ages," pages 441, 442.
"Can two walk together except they be agreed?"--Amos 3:3.
Pastor Adams wants his readers to believe that by teaching the truth of the SRod message, a Davidian has "severed himself from the fellowship of the church," because it contradicts their worthless tradition. This is exactly what the Pharisees said in the days of Jesus, because the truth He taught directly contradicted their worthless tradition. And they "severed" Him and His disciples from the church by casting them "out of the synagogue" (Jn. 9:22); and that is what they do to Davidians today--cast them out of the church, because they teach truth which contradicts their worthless tradition! And though it is true, Jesus said in His testimonies by Sis. White that "Christ has plainly taught that those who persist in open sin must be separated from the church" (C.O.L. 71:3); yet, He did not say that teaching the truth is an "open sin"! If that is so, then Jesus committed an "open sin" when He taught truth to the Jews, and the Pharisees were justified in casting Him "out of the synagogue" (Jn. 9:22) and crucifying Him! Since, however, Jesus never sinned secretly or in thought, much less commit an "open sin," then neither He nor His disciples, nor true Davidians today can be condemned for teaching the truth, because that is not an "open sin." And, as every Seventh-day Adventist knows, when there is a Sunday law during the time of trouble, and they teach the truth of the Sabbath, they will be falsely accused of teaching an "open sin." So it is the same today. When Seventh-day Adventists accuse true Davidians of an "open sin" for teaching the truth, they should know that their accusation is also false! Moreover, Jesus told all Christians that "when they shall separate you from their company," then they are to "rejoice" (Lk. 6:22, 23; Isa. 65:5). Pastor Adams would not, of course, dare say that Jesus said for the Christians to "rejoice" when they are cast out for "open sin"! Therefore, since the ministers have never cast out any true Davidian for an "open sin," because we are reformists who live the truth; this fact proves their accusations against us for "open sin" is false; and that is why we "rejoice" when they cast us out! |
Read carefully the following counsel from the Spirit of Prophecy.
23
VITAL COUNSEL AND
SOLEMN
WARNINGS FOR ALL CONCERNED
NEW LIGHT MAY BE REVEALED
But Not Contrary to Established Faith
"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."--"Testimonies," Vol. 5, page 708
"God has not passed His people by, and chosen ONE SOLITARY MAN here and another there AS THE ONLY ONES worthy to be entrusted with HIS TRUTH. HE DOES NOT give one man new light CONTRARY TO THE ESTABLISHED FAITH OF THE BODY."--"Testimonies," Vol 5, p. 291.
In the statement above Sis. White was talking about a "Brother D," who was "one solitary man" that had a false understanding of truth, because he was not inspired of the Lord. This cannot refer to "one solitary" person with the truth, such as Sis. E. G. White, because she was inspired as a prophetess of the Lord; otherwise she would be condemning herself. And being inspired of the Lord as "one solitary" person, she was "entrusted with His truth," which she shared with others. Moreover, Jesus inspired her to predict in 1890 that He would send to His church "one solitary man" --Elijah the prophet, with a message of truth (T.M. 475), which is not "contrary to the established faith." And he alone was inspired of the Lord and "entrusted with His truth"! Pastor Adams should know that this "one solitary man" whom Sis. White spoke of as "Brother D," was not a prophet of the Lord. Yet, he deliberately misapplied the statement above to deceive his readers, and discredit the Elijah who came in 1929 with the message of The Shepherd's Rod, as quoted below: "Prophecy must be fulfilled. The Lord says: 'Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord' {Mal. 4:5}. Somebody is to come {future tense--sometime after 1890} in the spirit and power of Elijah, and when he (a male person--Mal. 4:6} appears, men may say: 'You are too earnest, you do not interpret the Scriptures in the proper way. Let me tell you how to teach your message'."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 475:3 (bold emphasis, braces added). Since Sis. White began her ministry in 1844 and wrote in 1890 that Elijah "is to come" in the future, then she could not have been that Elijah. The Lord proved this irrefutable fact when He said in the Bible: "And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time." (Judges 4:4). Did you notice that God's Word did not say that Deborah was a "prophet," a "husband" and a "he"? Why? Because the Lord always refers to a male person as a "he" and a "prophet;" whereas He always refers to a female person (such as Deborah and Sis. White) as a "she" and a "prophetess"! And that is the reason why Malachi said "Elijah the prophet" (Mal. 4:5) is to be a male person "he" (Mal. 4:6), as the first Elijah (John the baptist) was also a "he" (Mt. 3:1-3). This indisputable fact proves, then, that Sis. White was not referring to herself as this predicted Elijah, but to a "somebody"--the Elijah who "is to come" sometime after her day. He was identified as Bro. V.T. Houteff by his teachings of The Shepherd's Rod message. It was he who gave his followers this name --Davidian Seventh-day Adventists, as noted below: "...we are the only people who have the message of the reestablishment of the House of David, and of restoring 'all things' (Mark 9:12) and are therefore named Davidians,..."--1 Timely Greetings, No. 9, pg. 6:1 (bold emphasis added). |
"If God has any NEW LIGHT to communicate HE WILL LET HIS CHOSEN AND BELOVED UNDERSTAND IT, without their going to have their minds enlightened by hearing those who are in darkness and error."--Early Writings," page 124.
| Any "new light" which the Lord sends to His church must come by a prophet; for He said, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7). It was "one solitary" person, Sis. E. G. White--a prophetess of the Lord, who predicted that "one solitary man"--Elijah the prophet (T.M. 475:3), would bring a "message" of "new light." And "His chosen and beloved" saints (the 144,000 and those saved "with" them) in the Seventh-day Adventist church will study his message and "understand it." Therefore, they will not hear those ministers who teach "darkness and error" of worthless traditions. Pastor Adams should know these facts, but he misuses the statement above to turn his readers away from hearing Elijah and his SRod message of "new light." |
"In our work NO SIDE ISSUES must be advanced until there has been a thorough examination of the ideas entertained, that it may be ascertained from what source they have originated."--"Testimonies," Vol 5, page 293.
"And the only safety for any of us is in receiving NO NEW DOCTRINE, no new interpretation of the Scriptures, without first submitting it TO BRETHREN OF EXPERIENCE. Lay it before THEM in a humble, teachable spirit, with earnest prayer; and IF THEY SEE NO LIGHT IN IT, YIELD TO THEIR JUDGMENT; for `in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.'"--"Testimonies," Vol 5, page 293.
(N.B.--In harmony with the above counsel of the Spirit of prophecy, a special committee was appointed comprised of the following brethren to give Mr. Houteff the hearing he asked for: Glenn Calkins, A.G. Daniells, J.E. Fulton (Otto Graf took Elder Fulton's place). G.A. Roberts, C.S. Prout, F.C. Gilbert,
24
J.A. Burden, H.M.S. Richards, W.M. Adams, C.M. Sorenson, W.G. Wirth, J.C. Stevens," who gave him a quiet, respectful hearing "in the Hoover Street Tabernacle at 10 a.m., Monday, February 19, 1934." Serious errors were found in Mr. Houteff's (leader of the Shepherd's Rod movement) teachings. He was answered and his message was rejected.--W.M.A.) (bold emphasis added by Don Adair).
Since Pastor Adams was one of the twelve men (W.M. Adams) of the "committee" mentioned above, then he would, of course, say that they (including himself) are the "brethren of experience." But his readers cannot afford to "take for granted" (T.M. 70:2) that he is right, because he gave no evidence to prove that they are the "brethren of experience;" nor did he say who appointed them to make their appointment not only authentic, but also to make valid their votes. And since it was Sis. White who originated these words, "brethren of experience," then only she can be the one to identify them from her writings. First, it should be noted that the statement about the "brethren of experience" (5 Test. 293) came from Jesus through His prophetess, Sis. E. G. White; which He inspired her to write in His "testimony" to the church. It was written in 1885, which was three years before the General Conference leaders rejected the message of the "Righteousness of Christ" (TM91,92; 1SM234,235) in 1888. And since Jesus knew that these leaders would be the false "brethren of experience" who would reject His message of truth in 1888, He inspired Sis. White in 1885 to write His testimony (quoted above) to direct the saints to the true "brethren of experience;" lest they be deceived by false "brethren of experience." And since Sis. White and some early pioneers of the advent faith had fully accepted the truth of the 1888 message of the "Righteousness of Christ," then this irrefutable fact proves they were the true "brethren of experience;" whereas the General Conference leaders who rejected that 1888 message would be the false "brethren of experience" at that time. Since Sis. White had already written her statement in 1885, which identified herself and others with her as the true "brethren of experience," then the few saints who went to them for advice about that 1888 message, were told that it was a true message from Jesus, and they accepted it. But there were also General Conference leaders who rejected that 1888 message, which identified them as false "brethren of experience"! They told the majority of the laity who asked them for advice that it was a false message and they rejected it, as noted below: "An unwillingness {of the General Conference leaders} to yield up preconceived opinions, and to accept this truth, lay at the foundation of a large share of the opposition manifested at Minneapolis {by them} against the Lord's {1888} message through [E.J.] Waggoner and [A.T.] Jones. By exciting that opposition {through the false brethren of experience} Satan succeeded in shutting {it} away from our people...The enemy prevented them from obtaining {it}...The light...was resisted...by the action of our own {false} brethren {of experience}..."--1 Selected Messages, pg. 234:6--brackets [] by book editor (bold emphasis, braces {} added by author). IDENTIFYING THE TRUE BRETHREN OF EXPERIENCE Pastor Adams and most ministers of the Seventh-day Adventist church say that these "brethren of experience" are the General Conference leaders of today; and that anyone who teaches a "new doctrine" must submit it to them and "yield to their judgment," because they represent the "voice of God" to the people. This is why your pastor would insist that you let these leaders decide for you what is truth and what is error! And since you readers are among the saints who seek the "straight testimony" (E.W. 270:2) of Jesus, and know that as there were true and false "brethren of experience" in 1888, so it will be today. You know that you must avoid the advice of the false "brethren of experience" and accept the advice of the true "brethren of experience" for this reason: When the message of Christ's righteousness was rejected in 1888, you know that Jesus did not throw up his hands in discouragement and say, "Oh well, that truth wasn't all that important, and besides they didn't want it anyway, so I will forget about sending it again"! And since you know that Jesus would not send an unimportant message to His church in the first place, then you would also know that He must send that very important message again. And it would come, of course, through the Elijah which Sis. White predicted in 1890 was to come. In 1929 he came with the message of The Shepherd's Rod; but the General Conference and most ministers rejected it again. And they will try to keep you from accepting it. Isn't that why Pastor Adams wrote his brochure? If your pastor learns that you are investigating the SRod message, and if he calls you into his office and tells you to listen to the General Conference leaders, because they are the "brethren of experience," you must let the Holy Spirit help you decide whether or not they are what they claim to be. And if they are not, then you must find those who are the true "brethren of experience" to help you learn the "new light" of that very important message, which He will send again. To do this you must read certain statements to your pastor from Jesus' "testimony" in Sis. White's writings and ask him questions; and then carefully note if his demeanor is Christ-like when he answers them. This will help you decide who are true "brethren of experience" and whose advice you should hear and follow. GENERAL CONFERENCE NO LONGER VOICE OF GOD Explain to your pastor that since the General Conference leaders rejected the message of the "Righteousness of Christ" in 1888, then they could not be the true "brethren of experience" to tell us what is the truth. That, of course, is why their prophetess, Sis. Ellen G. White, told the people in God's church that these few brethren at their Headquarters, which was in Washington, D.C. but is now in Silver Springs, Maryland), are no longer the "voice of God" to His people: "That these {few leading} men should stand in a sacred place to be as the voice of God to the people, as we once believed the General Conference to be,--that is past."--General Conference Bulletin, April 3, 1901--by EGW (bold emphasis, braces added). In 1888 these few men rejected the truth God sent to them by brethren A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner (T.M. 91), and that is why Sis. White said these General Conference men were no longer the voice of God to the people! And the same applies to any other few men who are elected by delegates and given charge of the Seventh-day Adventist church after they return home. "God has ordained that the representatives {voting delegates} of His church from all parts of the earth, when assembled in a General Conference, shall have authority {as God's voice to the people}."--Gospel Workers, pg. 490:1 (boldings, braces added). If these few General Conference men do not obey the testimonies, or that which the voting delegates have legislated, then they are not God's voice to the people! Therefore, tell your pastor that these few leaders of today are no longer the "voice of God" to His people; because they are guilty of rejecting the 1888 message of truth for these three main reasons: (1) These leaders have not to this day repented of that guilt by openly condemning the General Conference leaders who rejected the 1888 message. (2) If they had repented, they would prove they are the voice of God to the people, by telling the laymembers that God will send that important message again. (3) And when that message comes again, they would be the first to accept it, and teach it to the laymembers. And since they have not done this, then the General Conference today cannot be the leadership who are the "counsel of God" to the laity of God's church: GENERAL CONFERENCE NO LONGER COUNSEL OF GOD "Who are standing in the counsel of God at this time? Is it those {the General Conference leaders that say they are the counsel of God} who virtually excuse wrongs among the professed people of God and who murmur in their hearts, if not openly, against those {saints} who would reprove sin? Is it those {General Conference leaders} who take their stand against them {the saints who reprove sin} and sympathize with those {ministers and laity} who commit wrong? No, indeed!"--3 Testimonies, pg. 267:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). Now ask your pastor these questions: If the General Conference today is the "counsel of God" and "brethren of experience" as you say they are, would they excuse the sins of the members? or murmur against the saints who reprove their sins? or cast them out of God's church? Note his reaction: Does he manifest a Christian deportment? Does he admit your "point when it is well sustained" (G.W. 301:2)? Then read to him what these "sinners in Zion" are doing that God condemns: TRUE BRETHREN OF EXPERIENCE "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 {that laymembers should doubt the testimonies}."--5 Testimonies, pg. 217:2--by EGW (bold emphasis, braces added). "It is Satan's plan to weaken the faith of God's people in the testimonies {by some ministers}...."--5 Testimonies, pg. 672:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). Now ask your pastor these questions: If the General Conference is the "brethren of experience" as you say they are, would they tell me not to believe the testimonies? Would they excuse the sin of those ministers who try to lead me to "doubt the testimonies" of Jesus? and would they tell me not to "love and obey" them? "We {SDA} must follow the directions given through the Spirit of prophecy {Jesus' testimony}. We must love and obey the truth for this time. This will save us from accepting strong delusions {worthless traditions}."--Gospel Workers, pg. 308:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). If your pastor is an honest minister he will answer "No" to your questions--meaning that the "brethren of experience" would not try to make you "doubt the testimonies" or disbelieve them. It's not likely, of course, that he would answer "Yes" to your questions! Or he may not answer at all, and ask you to continue--meaning that he does not want to admit your "point when it is well sustained" (G.W. 301:2). Anyway, whatever is his answer, read other statements to him: TRUE BRETHREN OF EXPERIENCE "We {the General Conference leaders, ministers, and laity} must not for a 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 {old light}, and have need of nothing {new light}.' While we must hold fast to the truths which we have already received {the old light}, we must not look with suspicion upon any new light that God may send."--Gospel Workers, pg. 310:4 (bold emphasis, braces added). "No one {especially General Conference leaders and ministers} 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 {to reveal new light}, and no man {General Conference} can shut it {to keep truth from the saints}.'"--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 107:1 (boldings, braces added). Now ask your pastor these questions: If the General Conference leaders today are the "brethren of experience" as you say they are, would they tell me that I am rich with truth and need no more (Rev. 3:17)? Would they tell me that Jesus will not send again the rejected message of Christ's Righteousness to His church as "new light"? Note whether or not he admits your "point when it is well sustained" (G.W. 301:2)--that "new truth" will come? And then read other statements to him: TRUE BRETHREN OF EXPERIENCE "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. 107:2 (bold emphasis added). "If a message comes that you do not understand, take pains that you may hear the reasons the messenger may give {at His Bible studies}, comparing Scripture with Scripture, that you may know whether or not it is sustained by the Word of God."--Counsels on Sabbath School Work, pg. 29:0 (bold emphasis, braces added). Now ask your pastor these questions: If the General Conference is the "brethren of experience" as you say they are, would they tell me that I should not obey the testimonies and "sit down as Christians" with other Seventh-day Adventist believers to study the Bible? Note his reaction: Does he admit your "point when it is well sustained" (G.W. 301:2)--that you have a right to study "new truth" with others? Or does he say you cannot attend further Bible studies? Then read more to him: TRUE BRETHREN OF EXPERIENCE "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret {new light to His church} unto His servants the prophets"--Amos 3:7 (bold emphasis, braces added). Now read to your pastor the prediction of Sis. White in 1890 that the Lord would send His prophet Elijah the prophet to His church: "Somebody is to come in the spirit and power of Elijah" to "interpret the Scriptures" (T.M. 475:3). And explain to him that after the General Conference rejected the 1888 message, the Lord sent it again (2 T.G. 39:19:2) in 1929 through His prophet Elijah, who was Bro. Houteff. Tell him that this Elijah could not be Sis. E. G. White for these three basic reasons: (1) The prophet Elijah is "somebody" (not Sis. White) who "is to come" in the future from her day. (2) This Elijah is a prophet (Mal. 4:5), a man who is identified as a "he" person (Mal. 4:6). (3) This Elijah is not a prophetess (Jud. 4:4) who is a female "she" person; and cannot, therefore, be Sis. White (1 S.M. 34:5). ERRORS THAT FALSE Now ask your pastor these seven questions: If the General Conference is the "brethren of experience" as you say they are, then (1) Would they act like false "brethren of experience" and tell me that Jesus' "testimony" is not reliable, and that I should "doubt" what they teach (5 Test 217:2)? (2) Would they say Jesus' "testimony" is wrong for saying "new light" will come to God's church (G.W. 300)? (3) Would they say Jesus' "testimony" is wrong for saying Elijah (T.M. 475:3) is to come with a message? (4) Would they say Sis. White was the "he" Elijah (Mal. 4:6) when "she" could not be; and made no such claim? (5) Would they say Jesus' "testimony" is wrong for saying that I should sit down with others (T.M. 107:2) and listen to their Bible studies, to know if it is the "new light" of the message of Elijah? (6) Would they say Jesus' "testimony" is wrong for saying that I must study to find that "new light"? (7) And what if I study with others to find the Elijah "message" and accept it, would they act as false leaders (while claiming that they are "brethren of experience") and do what Jesus' "testimony" said they must not do--cast me out of God's church? "The Lord forbids us {the false brethren of experience} to proceed in any violent way against those {laymembers} whom we think erring {by casting them out of God's church}, and we are not to deal out excommunications and denunciations to those who are faulty....The work of separation is given to the angels of God {by the slaughter of Ezek. 9}, and not committed into the hands of any man."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 47:1, 2 (bold emphasis, braces added). WHO ARE TRUE BRETHREN OF EXPERIENCE? Among the saints who do not reject Elijah's "new light," there are some who are the true "brethren of experience." They have had a special experience in investigating, accepting, and teaching the "new light" of Elijah's message to the "elect" (Mt. 24:24) who cannot be deceived. And when the elect come to these experienced brethren for spiritual advice, they listen and let the Holy Spirit guide them into "all truth" (Jn. 16:13), because they study the truth for themselves. FALSE BRETHREN OF EXPERIENCE IDENTIFIED Now that the true "brethren of experience" have been identified, it would, by contrast, identify those who are the false "brethren of experience," as is noted below: (1) Those Seventh-day Adventists who disbelieve the writings of Sis. White (5 Test. 217), which is the "testimony of Jesus" (Rev. 19:10). (2) Those who do not believe her prediction that "new light" (G.W. 310) will be revealed. (3) Those who do not believe her prediction that Elijah (T.M. 475) will bring that "new light" to the church. (4) And those who do not believe her admonition to find that "new light" by studying with others. According to what Sis. White has written, neither the General Conference, or the "committee" that was "appointed" in 1934, can be the "brethren of experience" as they claim. This fact is seen in the doctrines that Pastor Adams put in his brochure, which he says is "Seventh-day Adventist teachings," but which has been proven for the most part to be worthless traditions! COMMITTEE VOTED AGAINST THE SHEPHERD'S ROD Moreover, it is obvious that Pastor Adams brochure was written in behalf of the other eleven brethren on the "committee," because it condemns the SRod message, which he said that they (including himself) had rejected and voted against. And since Bro. V.T. Houteff (who authored the SRod) lived in California, then it is likely that the "committee" was appointed by the Pacific Union Conference (7 Tr 21:5). And since Pastor Adams was a committee member who lived there, then he surely would know who appointed them. This strongly suggests that he did not mention the Pacific Union Conference, because he wanted his readers to believe that it was the General Conference leaders in Washington D.C. (who claim to be the voice of God), that had "appointed" the "committee." This would make it appear to his readers that the vote of the "committee" against the SRod was authorized and valid; and that his brochure is the official doctrine of the Seventh-day Adventist church! This fact cannot be denied, for the General Conference leaders revealed their endorsement of his brochure to use as their weapon against the SRod; because they have not openly condemned his brochure, nor prevented it's distribution to their members. Pastor Adams, of course, did not reveal in his brochure whether or not a local Conference had selected the twelve men. If he did, his readers would know that the vote of the "committee" against the SRod was invalid! Neither did he tell them that only a legitimate "committee" can be "appointed" by the "authority" of a General Conference of many delegates, as Jesus' "testimony" stated in Sis. White's writings: "God has ordained that the representatives {voting delegates} of His church from all parts of the earth, when assembled in a General Conference, shall have authority {as the voice of God to the people}."--Gospel Workers, pg. 490:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). So why didn't the few General Conference men in Washington, D.C. bring Elijah's message before a full "General Conference" assembly of voting delegates "from all parts of the earth"? They could have done that in 1934, or anytime thereafter, but they didn't. Was it because they were afraid that these "representatives," being the voice of God to the people with "authority," just might vote to accept the SRod message? Perhaps they didn't want to take that chance. Now readers, stop and think about this for a moment and ask yourselves this question: If the few General Conference men (who claim to be the voice of God) know that the SRod is really wrong, then why didn't they (not the Pacific Union Conference in California), openly appoint a committee in 1934 to sit in judgment and prove it wrong? Then all the members of the Seventh-day Adventist church could have waited in prayerful anticipation of the verdict of the committee, to know whether or not it is of God. And if they did prove it wrong, then the few General Conference leaders could triumphantly announce the committee's vote against it, and openly distribute their proofs to all laymembers to show where the Elijah's SRod message was wrong? But they have not done so to this very day (2000), because they know that they can not prove it wrong! Instead, Pastor Adams wrote his brochure of worthless traditions, to try and deceive his readers into believing that this is "what Seventh-day Adventists teach." Is that why they allowed the Pacific Union Conference in California to select twelve men (even though they knew that their votes against Elijah's message would be invalid), so it could be falsely circulated that the General Conference leaders had lawfully "appointed" the "brethren of experience" who had given Bro. Houteff a hearing and judged it to be wrong? Isn't it obvious that the sole purpose of Pastor Adams' brochure is to circulate this false rumor, by stating that "a special committee was appointed," and then leaving the readers mystified as to who really appointed them? As for the General Conference leaders in 1934, they must have known that sooner or later other people would read Pastor Adams' brochure and see where he deliberately abuses the "testimony of Jesus," by his manipulations and misapplications to exploit the writings of Sis. White to make the truth of the SRod appear wrong, and cause others to reject his message. And they would know that sometime in the future, when the errors in his brochure are finally exposed, there would be reprisals. Perhaps that is why they were afraid to appointment a "committee," and openly endorse the worthless traditions which Pastor Adams wrote in his brochure, lest they be forced to share his guilt; and lest it discredit their claim to be the brethren of experience, and the voice of God to the people. These irrefutable facts prove that Pastor Adams and the other eleven members of the "committee" cannot be the true "brethren of experience," as he claims. And it also proves that his brochure is one of the "abominations" (Ezek. 9:4) for which the saints are to "sigh and cry" against! Therefore, let all readers take heed to the admonition in the quotation below, and do not "Godspeed" his brochure of errors and tradition! |
"If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, RECEIVE HIM NOT INTO YOUR HOUSE, neither bid him Godspeed: For he that biddeth him Godspeed IS PARTAKER OF HIS EVIL DEEDS,"--2 John 10,11.
"BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."--Matt. 7:15.
Pastor Adams is again teaching another one of his worthless traditions. He is implying that when Jesus told the Christians to "beware of false prophets," He was telling them to beware of "all prophets." His objective, of course, is to make his readers believe all prophets are false, so his readers would automatically assume that the prophet Elijah (Bro. Houteff) is false! Instead, he must not only tell all those who read his brochure to "beware of false prophets," but he must also tell them to accept true prophets! Surely, he knows that Jesus was "a prophet" (Lk. 24:19), and that He was not telling the Christians to beware of all prophets (Mt. 7:15); lest He condemn Himself as a false prophet! Moreover, for Pastor Adams to imply that Jesus meant to beware of all prophets; would condemn Sis. White as a false prophetess. These facts prove that, he must do more than just tell his readers to beware of false prophets. He must also tell them that Sis. White is a true prophetess, and that they must accept the true prophet Elijah which she predicted was to come! |
"Though we or an angel from heaven, preach any OTHER GOSPEL unto you than that which we have preached unto you, LET HIM BE ACCURSED."--Gal. 1:8,9.
| The gospel of the Bible, which was committed to the Laodicean church, must include the writings of Sis. White (Rev. 19:10); who predicted in 1890 that Elijah the prophet was to come to the Seventh-day Adventist church with a message of truth (T.M. 475:3). Therefore, any Seventh-day Adventist who would dare discredit her writings, or lessen the importance of Elijah's message is "accursed"! |
THOSE ADVOCATING FALSE THEORIES
Misapply and Twist Testimonies
to Support Their Theories.
Result: People lose confidence in Testimonies.
"Without my consent, they have made selections from the `Testimonies,' and have inserted them in the pamphlet they have published, to make it appear that my writings sustain and approve the position they advocate. In doing this, they have done that which is not justice or righteousness."--Testimonies to Ministers," Page 32.
| Pastor Adams has misapplied the quotation above to make it condemn the SRod; but he does not see that it applies to himself! Has he not "made selections from the Testimonies...to make it appear that" Sis. White's "writings sustain" his worthless tradition that the entire leopard-like beast is "--the papacy" (as previously discussed)? Has he not "made selections from the Testimonies..to make it appear that" Sis. White's "writings sustain" his worthless tradition that the slaughtering angels of Ezek. 9 will slay those in Babylon during the seven last plagues (as previously discussed)? |
"The Lord has given to His people appropriate messages of warning, reproof, counsel, and instruction, but it is not appropriate to take these messages out of their connection, and place them where they will seem to give force to messages of error.--"Testimonies," Vol 5, page 36.
| It is Pastor Adams who has taken certain "selections from the Testimonies...to make it appear" in his brochure that blaspheme means Babylon (as previously discussed), to deceive the laymembers into believing his worthless tradition that Elijah's Shepherd's Rod message teaches the Seventh-day Adventist church is Babylon. Is not his brochure a "message of error"? |
"It will be found that those who bear false messages will not have a high sense of honour and integrity. They will deceive the people, and mix up with their error the `Testimonies' of Sister White, and use her name to give influence to their work. They make such selections from the `Testimonies' as they think
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they can twist to support their positions, and place them in a setting of falsehood, so that their error may have weight, and be accepted by the people. They misinterpret and misapply that which God has given to the church, to warn, counsel, reprove, comfort, and encourage those who shall make up the remnant people of God.--"Testimonies to Ministers," page 42.
| It is Pastor Adams' brochure and the other "dumb-dog" ministers like him who have misinterpreted and misapplied "that which God has given to the church to warn" them of the slaughter of Ezek. 9; while they cast out the Davidian "dogs" who "bark" the warning. They have taken "selections from the testimonies," as already noted, to "twist" and "support" their worthless tradition that the purification of God's church by the literal slaughter of Ezek. 9 is spiritual; or that it is the Sunday blue law; or that it is the "general destruction" of the seven last plagues (as already discussed). |
"Those who start up to proclaim a message on their own individual responsibility, who, while claiming to be taught and led of God, still make it their special work to tear down that which God has been for years building up, are not doing the will of God. Be it known that these men are on the side of the great deceiver. Believe them not. They are allying themselves with the enemies of God and the truth. THEY WILL DERIDE THE ORDER OF THE MINISTRY as a system of priestcraft. From such turn away, have no fellowship with their message, however much they may quote the `Testimonies' and seek to entrench themselves behind them. Receive them not; for God has not given them this work to do. The result of such work will be unbelief in the `Testimonies.'"--"Testimonies to Ministers," page 51.
| By misapplying the above statement, Pastor Adams falsely accuses the Davidians of making it their "special work to tear down that which God has been for years building up"! But Davidians are reformists who live and teach all the truths of the church, which God has been "building up" since 1844. Their special work, therefore, is to "tear down" the abominations, and errors, which the Devil has been "building up." This is what Pastor Adams should be doing; but he is "blind" (Rev. 3:17). He thinks that when Davidians rebuke their false doctrines, they are tearing down the truth. Instead, his worthless traditions in his brochure can only "tear down" what God has built up. "Such work," Sis. White says, will cause "unbelief in the testimonies" of Jesus; who warned them that if they do not repent, and accept Elijah message of the SRod, and receive the seal, the angels will slay them. |
"This class of evil workers have selected portions of the `Testimonies,' and have placed them in the framework of error, in order by this setting to give influence to their false testimonies. When it is made manifest that their message is error, then the `Testimonies,' brought into the companionship of error, share the same condemnation....Those who thus bring the work of God into disrepute will have to answer before God for the work they are doing."--"Testimonies to Ministers," page 52.
| Pastor Adams uses the quotation above to imply that Davidians are "evil workers," to cause his readers to reject the SRod. But it is he who has "selected portions of the Testimonies, and placed them in the framework of error" to make it appear that Sis. White says the papacy "head" (Rev. 13:3) is the entire leopard-like beast! Yet, she wouldn't say the papacy "head" (Dan. 7:8) is the entire non-descript beast (Rome)! This worthless tradition "brings the work of God into disrepute." Wouldn't that make it appear that Pastor Adams is an "evil worker"? |
FALSE TEACHERS
Accuse the Brethren
Are Critical, Faultfinding,
Quoting Testimonies of Condemnation,
But Not of Encouragement or for Unity.
"Into the hearts of many who have been long in the truth there has entered a hard, judicial spirit. They are sharp, critical, fault-finding. They have climbed upon the judgment-seat
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to pronounce sentence upon those who do not conform to their ideas. God calls upon them to come down, and bow before Him in repentance, confessing their sins."--"Testimonies," Vol. 8, pages 298,299.
| In 1934 Pastor Adams accepted a position on the illegal "committee" in California and "climbed upon the "judgment seat." He and the other eleven men manifested a "sharp, critical, fault-finding" spirit toward God, who sent His prophet Elijah to rebuke the "abominations" in the church, and they voted against his message of truth. Afterwards, Pastor Adams continued to manifest this same spirit when he wrote his brochure, which abused Jesus' "testimony" by his exploitation of Sis. White's writings to make the SRod's truth of the slaughter of Ezek. 9 appear wrong, and cause others to reject it. "God calls upon them"--the "committee" and other leaders like Pastor Adams, including the laymembers who are sympathetic toward them, to "come down, and bow before Him in repentance"! |
"They will deride the order of the ministry as a system of priestcraft. From such turn away, have no fellowship with their message."--"Testimonies to Ministers," page 51
| Pastor Adams is repeating Sis. White's statement again about a "system of priestcraft," which has already been explained. His use of this quotation is misinterpreted and misapplied against Elijah and the Davidians, because they do not "deride the...ministry." His purpose is to make the readers of his brochure who do not know the meaning of the word "priestcraft," to believe that it is something bad which Davidians are doing. But his use of the quotation not only exposes his false accusation against the Davidians, but it also exposes his "sharp, critical, fault-finding" spirit! |
"There will be messages of accusation against the people of God, similar to the work done by Satan in accusing God's people." "They misinterpret and misapply that which God has given to the church to warn, counsel, reprove, comfort, and encourage those who shall make up the remnant people of God."--"Testimonies to Ministers," page 42.
Though it is very true that some have falsely accused "God's people," and said, for example, that the Seventh-day Adventist church is Babylon. But the message of Elijah does not falsely accuse "God's people" of anything; much less teach that they are Babylon! And Pastor Adams has not produced in his brochure any such accusations, either by the SRod or the Davidians. All the "abominations" which they "sigh and cry" (Ezek. 9:4) against, are those which Jesus has inspired His prophetess (Sis. White) to write in His "testimony;" or that which the Seventh-day Adventist church has practiced since her day! And the purpose of their sighing and crying is to help the leaders, ministers, and laity see the need to repent to escape the slaughter of Ezek. 9. Isn't this exactly what Jesus did at His first advent (rebuke their abominations) to help the Jews repent? And what Pastor Adams has written in his brochure, in behalf of the "committee," the leaders, ministers, and laymembers, shows very clearly that they resent this work of reformation by Jesus through the Davidians. And that is why he misapplies Sis. White's statement above to make it appear to the readers of his brochure that the SRod message and the Davidians have falsely accused Seventh-day Adventists. Instead, it's the reverse: Pastor Adams and those like him falsely accused Jesus, His prophetess, and His prophet Elijah! They also falsely accused the Davidians for teaching the SRod message, and cast them out of His church! |
"Why did they not quote the words of the angel, `Press together, press together, press together'? Why did they not repeat the admonition and state the principle, that `in union there is strength, in division there is weakness'? It is such messages as these men have borne that divide the church and put us to shame before the enemies of truth, and IN SUCH MESSAGES IS PLAINLY REVEALED THE SPECIOUS WORKING OF THE GREAT DECEIVER, who WOULD HINDER THE CHURCH FROM ATTAINING UNTO PERFECTION IN UNITY."--"Testimonies," Vol 5, page 56.
| Why is Pastor Adams quoting the reference above? He knows that the Davidians have been cast out of the church. Does he want them reinstated, so that they can "press together" with the members of the church? Obviously not, because they cannot press together if they do not believe the errors and traditions in Pastor Adams' brochure, which "divide the church and put us to shame before the enemies of truth"! Those who accept Elijah's message of reformation will indeed "press together." And those who reject Elijah's message and accept the worthless traditions in Pastor Adams brochure, while they practice their abominations, will also "press together." Surely Pastor Adams knows that Jesus is not telling His prophetess (Sis. White) to admonish His saints to "press together" with the wicked in the church! Therefore, he should know that the only way the saints can "press together," is for the angels in Ezek. 9 to slay the wicked members in their midst. |
SATAN MAKES PEOPLE ZEALOUS
In Advocating His Theories,
Errors First Appear as Truth,
Later Seen Widely Separated from Truth.
"God is not the author of confusion, but of peace. But Satan is a vigilant, unsleeping foe, ever at work upon human minds, seeking a soil in which he can sow his tares. If he finds any whom he can press into his service, he will suggest ideas and false theories, and MAKE THEM ZEALOUS in advocating error."--"Testimonies to Ministers," page 54
| It is true, God is not the author of confusion in the Seventh-day Adventist church. Yet, when Jesus spoke (Heb. 1:2) through His prophetess (Sis. White) to warn the members about the slaughter of Ezek. 9, the false ministers whom He identifies as "dumb dogs," have refused to "bark" this warning to the laity. And when they urge their worthless tradition in place of truth, and say that it is not a literal slaughter of the wicked "tares" in the church; or that this purification is spiritual, or that it is caused by the Sunday blue law, or that it occurs after the close of probation for the entire world during the time of the seven last plagues, then they become the "author of confusion." And since Pastor Adams is teaching this confusion in his brochure, then who has suggested his "ideas and false theories"? and who has made him "zealous in advocating error"? |
"False teachers may appear to be VERY ZEALOUS for the work of God, and may expend means to bring their theories
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before the world and the church; but as they mingle error with truth, their message is one of deception, and will lead souls into false paths."--"Testimonies to Ministers," page 55.
| Pastor Adams may have thought that by accepting a position on the "committee" in 1934 to vote against the SRod message of Elijah, and by writing his brochure against it, he had proved that he was "very zealous for the work of God." Instead, he was a member of an illegal "committee," which made his vote invalid. And his brochure of worthless traditions, which "mingled error with truth," was a "message...of deception"! And though many of those who were deceived by his brochure have since died, his brochure will continue to lead thousands of living "souls into false paths." And they will all die in the literal slaughter of Ezek. 9, because many of them believe the Seventh-day Adventist church will be purified by a spiritual slaughter; or purified by a Sunday blue law, or purified by the seven last plagues, or purified at Christ's second advent! |
"The path of error often appears to lie close to the path of truth. It is hardly distinguishable from the path that leads to holiness and heaven. But the mind enlightened by the Holy Spirit may discern that it is diverging from the right way. After a while the two are seen to BE WIDELY SEPARATED."--"Testimonies," Vol. 8, pages 290, 291.
"They refuse the counsel of their brethren, and press on in their own way, until they become just what Satan would desire to have them--UNBALANCED IN MIND."--"Testimonies to Ministers," page 56.
Pastor Adams is misusing the statement above to make it appear to the readers of his brochure, that Elijah and the Davidians are those who are "unbalanced in mind." But how can he abuse Jesus' "testimony" and exploit the writings of Sis. White in his brochure to make it appear that the slaughter of Ezek. 9 is not for Seventh-day Adventists, but for those in Babylon during the seven last plagues, without exposing himself as being "unbalanced in mind"? How can he ignore the fact that he and the ministers like him are the "dumb dogs" who refuse to "bark" (5 Test. 211:2), and warn the laity about this slaughter (the Judgment of the Living), and not be exposed as the ones who are "unbalanced in mind"? And when Sis. White said that the leopard-like beast symbolizes the "nations" (G.C. 442:1), how can he teach that the entire beast is the papacy, and not expose himself as being "unbalanced in mind? Moreover, since the Davidians teach what Sis. White was inspired to write in the testimony of Jesus, then Pastor Adams doesn't realize it, but he is implying in his brochure (knowingly or unknowingly) that Davidians, as well as Jesus and His prophetess (Sis. White), are all "unbalanced in mind" for teaching that the angels of Ezek. 9 will slay the wicked in the Seventh-day Adventist church! Such accusations against the saints is false, because they always accept truth; but those who are "unbalanced in mind" always reject truth. So wouldn't this prove Pastor Adams is "unbalanced in mind" for rejecting the truth of the Ezek. 9 slaughter? |
"They are to be met, and opposed, not because they are bad men, but because they are teachers of falsehood, and are endeavoring to put upon falsehood the stamp of truth."--"Testimonies to Ministers," page 55.
"I warn my brethren to guard against the working of Satan in every form."--"Testimonies to Ministers," page 56.
| It is Satan who put his "tares" into the Seventh-day Adventist church, and he uses them very effectively to fight against the message of Elijah. If they were not there, then Jesus would not have stated in His "testimony" through Sis. White that His angels will slay them. But Satan does not want his "tares" killed; so he is "working...in every form" to discredit the writings of Sis. White, and Elijah's message of the slaughter of Ezek. 9. Is not Pastor Adam's brochure of worthless traditions one "form" of Satan's "working" against truth? |
SATAN'S
Seducing Influences
Hypnotize Minds
Who Investigate Error
Willing to be Deceived
"`The experience of the past will be repeated. In the future, Satan's superstitions will assume new forms. Errors will be presented in a pleasing and flattering manner. False theories, clothed with garments of light, will be presented to God's people. Thus Satan will try to deceive, if possible, the very elect. Most seducing influences will be exerted; MINDS WILL BE HYPNOTIZED."--Testimonies," Vol. 8, PAGE 293.
| In Pastor Adams' brochure, he is misusing the above statement to make his readers believe that their "minds will be hypnotized" by Satan, if they study the message of the SRod. But he himself studied the SRod quite extensively, and quoted many of its statements in his brochure. Would you readers say that his study of the SRod "hypnotized" him? No? Then neither will you be "hypnotized" for investigating the message of Elijah, and for believing in the literal slaughter of Ezek. 9. Furthermore, Jesus also teaches in His "testimony" (Rev. 19:10), through the writings of His prophetess (Sis. White), that the literal slaughter of Ezek. 9 occurs during probationary time (3 Test. 266; 5 Test. 211), before the seven last plagues fall on Babylon. Would Pastor Adams dare say in his brochure that Jesus was "hypnotized" by Satan for teaching the same true doctrine in His "testimony"? If Pastor Adams does not believe the slaughter of Ezek. 9 as Jesus stated through Sis. White, then who "hypnotized" him to disbelieve it? |
"Corruptions of every type, similar to those existing among the antediluvians, will be brought in to take minds captive." "Satanic agencies are clothing false theories in an attractive garb...The HYPNOTIC INFLUENCE OF SATAN will rest
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upon those who turn from the plain word of God to pleasing fables."
| The "hypnotic influence of Satan will rest upon" the "dumb dog" ministers who refuse to "bark" Jesus' warning of the slaughter of Ezek. 9 to the laity (5 Test. 211:2). And that's because they "turn from the plain word of God," and believe the "pleasing fables" in Pastor Adams' brochure--that the slaughter is not for them but for the wicked in Babylon during the seven last plagues. |
"I say to all, Be on your guard; for as an angel of light Satan is walking in every assembly of Christian workers, and in every church, trying to win the members to his side. I am bidden to give to the people of God the warning, 'BE NOT DECEIVED: God is not mocked.'--"Testimonies," Vol 8, pages 293, 294.
"`Satan can present a counterfeit so closely resembling the truth that it deceives THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO BE DECEIVED, who desire to shun the self-denial and sacrifice demanded by the truth; BUT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO HOLD UNDER HIS POWER ONE SOUL WHO HONESTLY DESIRES, at whatever cost, TO KNOW THE TRUTH."--"Great Controversy," page 528.
| Jesus told His prophetess (Sis. White) the truth--that the slaughter of Ezek. 9 is literal. But Satan presents a "counterfeit so closely resembling the truth," which teaches that the slaughter is spiritual or that it is the Sunday blue law; or the seven last plagues, as Pastor Adams teaches. And those Seventh-day Adventists "who are willing to be deceived" will believe the errors and worthless traditions in his brochure. |
ANGELS PRESERVE THOSE
Walking in the light.
"Angels of God will preserve His people while they walk in the path of duty; but there is no assurance of such protection for those who DELIBERATELY venture upon SATAN'S GROUND."--"Testimonies," Vol 5, page 198.
"God is displeased with us when we go to listen to error, without being obliged to go; for unless He sends us to those meetings where error is forced home to the people by the power of the will, He will not keep us. THE ANGELS CEASE THEIR WATCHFUL CARE OVER US, AND WE ARE LEFT to the buffetings of the enemy, to be darkened and weakened by him and the power of his evil angels; and THE LIGHT AROUND US BECOMES CONTAMINATED WITH THE DARKNESS."--"Early Writings," pages 124, 125.
Jesus stated through the writings of Sis. White that when "a brother...should come to you, proposing that you sit down with him and make an investigation...the only right way would be to sit down as Christians and investigate the position presented" (T.M. 107:2). Now why didn't Pastor Adams quote in his brochure what Jesus said; and tell them to "investigate" for themselves? Because he is afraid that his honest readers would do what Jesus said to do, which is opposite to the purpose of his brochure--to keep them from investigating for themselves! These facts prove that when Jesus said not to "listen to error," He had to mean those errors that are well known by Seventh-day Adventists, such as the false doctrine that the dead do not die, or spiritualistic teachings, or witchcraft. Pastor Adams, however, is misusing Jesus' words above to make it appear that Seventh-day Adventists should not listen to the message of Elijah after he appears. He is wrong, of course, because Sis. White's prediction that Elijah is to come to the church is not an error. And her admonition to investigate a doctrine by studying with others to find Elijah's message is not an error! And neither is the doctrine of the literal slaughter of Ezek. 9 an error! Instead, they are truths which Jesus inspired His prophetess to write in His "testimony"! Therefore, those who believe the errors and worthless traditions in Pastor Adams' brochure, and refuse to investigate Elijah's message, cannot expect to escape from being slain by the angels of Ezek. 9! |
"I beseech those who are labouring for God not to accept the spurious for the genuine....Let not erroneous theories receive countenance from the people who ought to be standing firm on the platform of eternal truth."--"Testimonies," Vol 8, page 298.
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GOD HAS A
CHURCH
A divinely Appointed Ministry
Will Go Through to the End
So Come With Us
"God HAS A CHURCH, and she has a DIVINELY APPOINTED MINISTRY."
"Jesus loved the church, and gave Himself for it, and HE WILL REPLENISH, REFINE, ENNOBLE, AND ELEVATE IT, so that IT SHALL STAND FAST amid the corrupting influences of this world."--"Testimonies to Ministers," pages 52, 53.
It's true, God does have a "divinely appointed ministry." Pastor Adams, however, is exploiting Jesus' statement above to make his readers believe that all the ministers in the Seventh-day Adventist church are "divinely appointed." His object is to make them believe that he and the other eleven ministers of the "committee" are "divinely appointed;" thus, their votes against Elijah's message of the SRod was of God and therefore valid. But Jesus said that not all Seventh-day Adventist ministers are "divinely appointed"! He said among them there are "tares sown by Satan" (C.O.L. 71:0), and others who have "turned back from following Christ their Leader" (5 Test. 217:2). He said that they are the "ministers who preach self" and who do not want the laity to believe and read the "testimonies" (5 Test. 217:2). They "take hold of the truth with one hand and of the world with the other;" and "their names are on the church books" (5 Test. 52:2). They "stand in our pulpits with the torch of false prophecy in their hands" (T.M. 409:3). And they are the "sleeping preachers" (2 Test. 337:2) and the "dumb dogs that would not bark" (5 Test. 211:2) to warn the church of the slaughter of Ezek. 9. It is for this reason that most of the ministers are not "divinely appointed," because Jesus stated in His "testimony" that only a "few great men" among the ministers will be "entrusted with the flock" (5 Test. 80:1). The false ministers will not "stand at the head of rank and file" and "be the leaders" (5 Test. 80:1) then, because they will die in the slaughter of Ezek. 9! The object of Pastor Adams use of the statement above, "Jesus loved the church" (Seventh-day Adventists), is to make his readers believe that all the members "shall stand fast amid the corrupting influences of this world;" but he is wrong! The false ministers in the church today who love the world are not "divinely appointed," and they will never "stand fast" to the end! |
"Thou art the Christ, the son of the living God." (Peter's confession). Then said Christ: "Upon this Rock I will build My CHURCH; and the gates of hell SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT."--Matt. 16: 16-18.
| Upon "this Rock" Jesus did build His church, and it still stands today--the Seventh-day Adventist church; and the "gates of hell" cannot prevail against it, but why? Pastor Adams thinks he knows why. He quoted Jesus' "testimony" above to make his readers believe (by a sly implication) that the reason why the "gates of hell" cannot prevail, is because the "committee" voted against Elijah's SRod message, and because he wrote in his brochure that it is false. But he is dead wrong for this obvious reason: The "gates of hell"--death, "the grave" (Isa. 14:9--margin) cannot prevail, because the saints are sealed and can't die (E.W. 285:0). And also because the slaughtering angels of Ezek. 9 will slay--"burn" (Mt. 13:30) the wicked in the Seventh-day Adventist church. Thus, the saints live on to be translated at Christ's second advent (1 Thess. 4:17; P.K. 227:2)! |
"God has a distinct people, A CHURCH ON EARTH SECOND TO NONE, but superior to all in their facilities to teach the truth, to vindicate the law of God."--"Testimonies to Ministers," page 58.
"I am encouraged and blessed as I realize that the God of Israel IS STILL GUIDING HIS PEOPLE, and that HE WILL CONTINUE TO BE WITH THEM, EVEN TO THE END."--"Life Sketches," pages 437, 438.
It's true, by the Bible and His "testimony" Jesus is "still guiding His people" (the saints). But He does not guide the "tares" (C.O.L. 71:0); instead, they are guided by worthless traditions. In Pastor Adams' brochure he misapplies Jesus' statement above to make his readers believe that Jesus has promised to be with all the people in the Seventh-day Adventist church to save all of them, "even to the end;" but that is worthless tradition and he is wrong. This promise of Jesus only applies to the saints, and not to the "tares" of the Devil; because these wicked people will not continue to the end, but die in the slaughter of Ezek. 9! Pastor Adams is one of the "dumb dogs" who does not believe the slaughter is for Seventh-day Adventists. That means he wants his readers to believe that if the wicked "tares" stay in the church and hold membership, "even to the end," then they will be guided by the Lord and saved along with the saints. Moreover, he would have them believe that if they are cast out of the church and lose their membership (as the Davidians are cast out), then they are lost! Again, that is worthless tradition, because Jesus, His apostles, and disciples were all cast out of the Jewish synagogue (Jn. 9:22), and neither He or they were lost! But the Jews who rejected Jesus the "truth" (Jn. 14:6), and thought that they were saved by not being cast out and losing their membership, were instead lost. So likewise today; those Seventh-day Adventists who reject Jesus in the form of truth (the SRod), and think that they are saved by not being cast out and losing their membership, will die in the slaughter of Ezek. 9 and be lost! |
"Let NONE seek to tear away the foundations of our faith--the foundations that were laid at the beginning of our work, by prayerful study of the Word and by revelation. Upon these foundations we have been building for the last fifty years. Men may suppose that they have found a NEW WAY, and that they can lay a stronger foundation than that which has been laid. BUT THIS IS A GREAT DECEPTION. Other foundation can NO MAN lay than that which has been laid."--"Testimonies," Vol. 8, pages 296, 297.
Pastor Adams is misusing the statement above to make his readers believe that Elijah's message of The Shepherd's Rod is trying to "tear away the foundation of our faith;" but he does not tell them what that faith is. Those who study know that the "foundations of our faith" began the Seventh-day Adventist church in 1844 with the first vision of the 144,000 by Sis. White; which also includes the truth of the Judgment of the Dead in the heavenly sanctuary; even before they knew about the seventh-day Sabbath. He is also trying to hide from his readers the fact that the 144,000 saints cannot be sealed (so that they cannot die) until Elijah the prophet comes (T.M. 475:3) with his sealing message, which is just before the Judgment of the Living begins. "The judgment {of the dead} is now passing in the sanctuary above. For many years this work has been in progress {since 1844}. Soon--none know how soon--it will pass to the cases of the living."--Great Controversy, pg. 490:1 (bold emphasis, braces added). Jesus told His prophetess (Sis. White) to write in His "testimony" that when the judgment of the dead is completed in the heavenly sanctuary, and the judgment passes to the "cases of the living" in the "house of God" (1 Pet. 4:17) to Seventh-day Adventists, then "the church--the Lord's sanctuary" (5 Test. 211:2) on earth, will be cleansed by the slaughter of Ezek. 9 to literally slay the wicked bodies of the "tares" and leave 144,000 saints and those saved "with" them. Afterwards, the names of these wicked people will be removed from the books in the heavenly sanctuary (12 S.C. 3:19:4). In 1929, Jesus sent Elijah with the SRod message to announce in his literature that the judgment of the dead is about to end, and the judgment of the living is about to begin with the slaughter of Ezek. 9. But Pastor Adams does not understand this fact, because Jesus said that he is one of the "blind" ministers (Rev. 3:17) of the Seventh-day Adventist church who thinks that they have need of nothing--need no more truth. And that is why he braced himself to automatically reject Elijah's message of the Judgment of the Living (which begins with the slaughter of Ezek. 9). And because he thinks that all prophets are false (Mt. 7:15), he willingly "climbed upon the "judgment seat" as a member of the "committee," and voted against Elijah's message; and wrote his brochure to try and convince other Seventh-day Adventists that it is error. This has led him to misuse and misapply Jesus' "testimony" in Sis. White's writings, to make his readers believe that the slaughter of Ezek. 9 is not for Seventh-day Adventists, and change it to mean the seven last plagues for the people of Babylon. But the foundation of the Judgment of the Dead passing on to the Judgment of the Living has been laid too deep; and it cannot be moved or changed. Pastor Adams brochure, therefore, cannot stop the sealing of the 144,000; much less stop the slaughtering angels of God from slaying the wicked people in the Seventh-day Adventist church! |
"COME THOU with us and we will do thee good; for THE LORD HATH SPOKEN GOOD CONCERNING ISRAEL."--Num. 10:29.
There was a time when the Lord did speak "good concerning Israel;" but when they apostatized, He rebuked them, spoke evil of them, and punished them. So it is today; the Seventh-day Adventist church (excluding the saints) has apostatized, because Jesus stated in His "testimony" that "the church has turned back from following Christ her leader and is steadily retreating toward Egypt" (5 Test. 217:2). Pastor Adams, however, is misapplying Jesus' statement above to make his readers believe that the Davidians have voluntarily left the Seventh-day Adventist church; but the truth is, they were involuntarily cast out! The Davidians, of course, would be glad to have their membership reinstated, and their names put back onto the records in the Seventh-day Adventist church, in spite of its apostasy. They would work to bring about a reformation, as "dogs" who "bark" the warning to the members to repent; and also urge them to accept Elijah's SRod message, and receive the "seal" (Rev. 7:2) and "mark" (Ezek. 9:4) to escape the slaughter of Ezek. 9. But this is what the ministers do not want, and that is why they cast out the Davidians in the first place. But Pastor Adams makes it appear in his brochure that he is very righteous for inviting the Davidians to give up the SRod message, and then they can come back to the church (as if they had voluntarily left it) by these words: "come thou with us and we will do thee good." But what good can the Davidians receive if they reject Elijah's message, and disbelieve Jesus' "testimony" in Sis. White's writings about the slaughter of Ezek. 9. Can we stick our head in the sand (like the fabled ostrich) along with Pastor Adams and the "dumb dog" ministers, and say with them that Jesus and Sis. White lied; and believe that He will not slay the wicked "tares" (Mt. 13:30) in the church? No! No! It is not the Davidians who need to come back to the Lord, for they are still following Jesus by living and believing all the true doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventist church, and by accepting Elijah's reformatory message. Instead, it is the General Conference leaders, Pastor Adams and those ministers like him, and the laymembers sympathetic to them, who have left the Lord and "turned back" (5 Test. 217). If they do not repent and hastily return to Him, they will surely die in the slaughter of Ezek. 9! |
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"It is as certain that we have the truth as that God lives; and Satan, with all his arts and hellish power, cannot change the truth of God into a lie."--"Testimonies," Vol. 4, page 595.
| It was through the writings of His prophetess (Sis. White) that the Lord Jesus said these words: "it is... certain that we have the truth." He also said that Elijah is to come with more truth (T.M. 475:3), and that "Satan... cannot change the truth of God into a lie"! Therefore, no matter how hard Pastor Adams tried in his brochure, he could not change what Jesus inspired His prophetess (Sis. White) to write, to make her say that the papal "head" with its "deadly wound" is the entire leopard-like beast. And neither could he "change the truth of God into a lie" about the slaughter of Ezek. 9, and make it apply to the wicked people during the seven last plagues. In spite of all that he wrote, and all the statements he quoted from Sis. White, which he wrongly applied to the Davidians and Elijah's SRod message, he could not "change the truth" of the SRod into a lie! Instead, he inserted errors and worthless traditions in his brochure, which caused many of his readers to see that he is not only fighting against the "testimony of Jesus"--the writings of His prophetess (Sis. E.G. White), but he is also fighting very hard against His prophet Elijah, whom He sent to the Seventh-day Adventist church with the message of The Shepherd's Rod! |
"Choose you this day whom ye will serve:...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."--Joshua 24:15.
| Pastor Adams is using the statement above to make his readers believe that if they reject the message of Elijah as he has done, then they "serve the Lord;" which implies that the Davidians do not serve the Lord. One day, however, all Seventh-day Adventists will hear about Elijah's "reformatory movement" (9Test. 126:2) of the SRod. And each one will be compelled to "choose" to accept that truth to be sealed among the 144,000, and "serve the Lord." Or each one can "choose" to reject the sealing message and die in the slaughter of Ezek. 9 (12SC3:18:2). Their choice of whom to serve (Jesus or Satan) will decide whether they live or die! |
"COME WITH US."
Pastor Adams invites the Davidians above to "come with us;" but we ask: With whom, Pastor Adams, would you have us Davidians come with? Would you have us come and unite ourselves with the "dumb dog" ministers? or with those Seventh-day Adventists who do not believe in Jesus' "testimony" in Sis. White's writings? We would gladly unite with the church, but we can't reject Jesus, the truth (Jn. 14:6)--in the form of the SRod. He recognizes us as true Seventh-day Adventists, even though we are cast out, as He and His disciples were cast out (Jn. 9:22). The ministers would, of course, give us membership if we rejected the SRod message, but this could not profit us, because we would all die in the slaughter of Ezek. 9 right along with them! Thus, it is better for us to hold on to The Shepherd's Rod message, and keep our membership in the Lamb's book of life. DANGER OF REJECTING TRUTH "But we see that the God of heaven sometimes commissions men {true Davidians} to teach that {the SRod} which is regarded {by dumb dog ministers} as contrary to the established doctrines. Because those who were once the depositaries of truth became unfaithful to their sacred trust {and turned back from following Christ--5 Test. 217}, the Lord chose others {true Davidians} 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 {dumb dog} leaders, in the blindness of their minds {Rev. 3:17}, give full sway to what is supposed to be righteous indignation {but is their unrighteous persecution} against the ones {Davidians} who have set aside cherished fables. They act like men who have lost their reason {and cast them out of the church}. They do not consider that they themselves have not rightly understood the word. They will not open their eyes to discern the fact that they {one of which is Pastor Adams} have misinterpreted and misapplied the Scriptures, and have built up false theories {worthless traditions}, calling them fundamental doctrines of the faith {and falsely saying--this is what Seventh-day Adventist teach}."--Testimonies to Ministers, pgs. 69, 70 (bold emphasis, braces added). "Even Seventh-day Adventists {the dumb dog ministers} are in danger of closing their eyes to truth {the message of Elijah} as it is in Jesus, because it {the SRod} contradicts something {their worthless traditions} which they {Pastor Adams and others like him} have taken for granted as truth {that the papacy (head) is the entire leopard-like beast, or that the slaughter of Ezek. 9 is for the wicked people in Babylon}, but which the Holy Spirit teaches is not truth."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 70:2 (bold emphasis, braces added). |
31
SIGNS PRINT
End of Pastor Adams brochure and comments of Bro.
Don Adair.
It may be copied and shared if unchanged and credits included.
LEOPARD-LIKE BEAST
He is the fifth beast who arose after the fall of Papal Rome, because his "head" (the papacy) is wounded. His "mouth of a lion" (Babylon), the "feet of a bear" (Medo-Persia), the body of "a leopard" (Grecia), and "ten horns" (Rome), proves that he is a descendant of four beasts--kingdoms (Dan. 7:3-7). Thus, he is the world today, when the churches are separate from the state.
His "ten horns" is a symbol of the leading governments of the world--the Protestant Nations. And his six unwounded "heads" symbolize the Protestant Churches, who, along with the nations, protest against the papacy (wounded head). All these churches have hypocrites who say they are "Jews" (Christians) but are not (Rev. 2:9)--reason why "blasphemy" is on the "heads" (Rev. 13:1).
His seventh "head" is a symbol of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. And because of their apostasy, God will send His angels to slay the hypocrites who refuse to voluntarily leave the church!
All the people in the Seventh-day Adventist church who are hypocrites, or tares, or backsliders, or unconverted, and who refuse to repent of their abominations, will be taken out of the church, not by the seven angels of the plagues (Rev. 16:1), but by five angels of Ezek. 9 who will slay them, if they refuse to voluntarily leave God's church!
"Study the 9th chapter of Ezekiel. These words {about angels who are to slay the wicked in the Seventh-day Adventist church} will be literally fulfilled."--1 Manuscript Releases, pg. 260:2 (bold emphasis, braces, added).
END OF STUDY 37A
Copyrighted © 2000
by
MT. CARMEL CENTER
282 Davidian Way
Tamassee, SC 29686
Phone (864) 944-1254 Fax (864) 944-9421
www.davidian.org
dadair@innova.net