Copyright 1997 Don Adair
All Rights Reserved
282 Davidian Way
Tamassee, So. Carolina 29686
Phone/Fax (864) 944-1254

BRIEF SKETCH OF BRO. HOUTEFF IN BULGARIA AND HIS COMING TO AMERICA

CHAPTER 5

BRO. HOUTEFF'S STORY IN HIS OWN WORDS

Victor Tasho Houteff was born in Bulgaria in 1885. He came to America in 1907 due to circumstances beyond his control. Let him tell you about it in his own words, which he had published in his own literature in 1947:

"I came to America, not because I wanted to, but because God wanted me to. And since I knew not my future work, and as God could then no more make me understand than He could at first make Joseph understand his trip to Egypt, I was therefore driven out of the country at the point of a gun as was Moses driven out of Egypt, although I had done nothing to bring trouble upon myself. And who do you suppose led the rebels to storm me out of the country? None other but the Greek Orthodox bishop of the province! And where do you suppose he sponsored his pursuing campaign? In the church on Sunday morning while in his full regalia and about twenty feet from where I stood!

"At that time I knew not what my going away from home to such a distant land was about, but now I know as well as Joseph knew that his brethren's hope to defeat God's plan for him was but God's plan to get him down into Egypt. And so rather than to thwart the plan, they {a religious mob} really caused the plan to be carried out!"--2 Timely Greetings, No. 35, pgs. 29, 30--by VTH (boldings, braces added by author).

"Some years ago while in Europe, I heard that one of my cousins had left for America. I then said to myself, 'Poor cousin, I will never leave home and go to live anywhere as far away as America for any reason.' But about that time, I, along with others, was falsely accused of conspiracy. It was in the season when the nights were long, and as we put on the lights in our store one morning before daylight, a mob gathered with guns and stones, and stormed the windows. So it was that just a few months after I took pity on my poor cousin's estrangement from his homeland I found myself in America in the same house with him. It was a great disappointment at first, no not lesser than Joseph's of old, but what a favor at last! God bless the mob!"--1 Timely Greetings, No. 50, pg. 26:3--by VTH (boldings added).

35 CHAPTER 5 35

BRO. HOUTEFF COMES TO AMERICA

Bro. Houteff's brief sketch of his life in Bulgaria reveals the reason he came to America, not what others say. He said it all started one Sunday morning in the Greek Orthodox church when the Bishop spoke to the people, who was "about twenty feet from where I stood" (35:2); and "although I had done nothing to bring trouble upon myself" (35:2), "I, along with others, was falsely accused of conspiracy" (35:4) by the bishop. That false accusation incited hatred against him, and that is why Bro. Houteff said a "mob gathered with guns and stones" (35:4), and "I was driven out of the country at the point of a gun" (35:2).

BRO. HOUTEFF'S COMING TO AMERICA DISTORTED BY ENEMIES

This brief account by Bro. Houteff was ignored by some book writers, or distorted by SDA leaders, and other enemies of his SRod message, to make it wrongfully appear that he was a criminal driven to America by the Bulgarian police; as if America is the jail house where they put all their criminals. And while he was in America, they said he was supposed to have continued his criminal activities. The fact is, he was falsely accused by the Bishop of the Greek Orthodox church and driven out "at the point of a gun" (35:2) by a church "mob" (35:4) of "rebels" (35:2), not by a police mob! Yet, in spite of this fact, the SDA leaders distorted his brief account of his reason for coming to America to prejudice the laity against his message, so they will not study with Davidians. Note below what they endorsed in a brochure statement, followed by another book statement by one of their ministers:

"Mr. Houteff's first religious affiliation was with the Greek Orthodox Church. Becoming involved in difficulty with the leaders of that religious denomination, and with those of the Bulgarian Government, he was violently expelled from the country of his birth. It was in 1907 that he came to the United States."--The History and Teachings of THE SHEPHERD'S ROD, pg. 3.

"He grew up as a member of the Eastern Orthodox Church, but disassociated himself from that denomination after a disagreement with church leaders. Apparently, he was enough of a problem that the Orthodox Church requested the Bulgarian Government to expel him from the country; which they did. Houteff would be a problem wherever he went."--THE DAVIDIANS OF WACO, pg. 2:2--by Vance Ferrell.

Now why did Bro. Houteff's SDA enemies write about him in their own words, rather than quote from the records of the Greek Orthodox church or the Bulgarian Government? because there are no such records. If they did exist, you

36 CHAPTER 5 36

BRO. HOUTEFF COMES TO AMERICA

can be sure that they would have triumphantly quoted them in their anti-Rod literature. There is only one place where they could find any record about the reason for his coming to America, and that is from his own writings (35:2-4)! That's right, Bro. Houteff told this story in his own publications for all SDA members to read, because he had nothing to hide. Neither was he ashamed of what happened, because he had "done nothing" wrong (35:2)! And the only place where his SDA enemies could know about his coming to America, they completely ignored, so they could write their own distorted account of the event. But why? To prejudice the minds of their laymembers against him by the use of these inflammatory words: "violently expelled from the country of his birth" (36:3), and "Houteff would be a problem wherever he went" (36:4).

So why didn't Bro. Houteff's enemies quote what he said about his coming to America as I did (35:2-4)? Obviously, because they didn't want to tell their members that he said: "although I had done nothing to bring trouble upon myself" (35:2); "I, along with others, was falsely accused of conspiracy" (35:4). These words were deliberately left out because the readers would see that Bro. Houteff was not a criminal as they try to make others believe. To ignore his words and still condemn him as a criminal, is to falsely accuse Bro. Houteff in America (by the president of the Seventh-day Adventist church), as he was falsely accused in Bulgaria (by the Bishop of the Greek Orthodox church)! Moreover, what logical Christian could possibly reason that a supposed criminal cast out of Bulgaria by a church "mob" (35:4) would come to America, then advertise in his own writings for everyone to read what really happened, and conclude with these words: "God bless the mob" (35:4)?

AS JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES WERE CALLED CRIMINALS SO WAS BRO. HOUTEFF

These SDA enemies of Bro. Houteff and his SRod message should consider that what they say about Bro. Houteff, they could just as well say about Jesus! Would they say He was a criminal because the Jews "thrust Him out of the city...that they might cast Him down" (Lk. 4:29)? Would they say He was a criminal because the Pharisees said to Pilate: "If he were not a malefactor {criminal}, we would not have delivered Him up unto you" (Jn. 18:30)? No true Christian in the SDA church would dare call Jesus a criminal because he was "thrust out" and called a "malefactor"! Would you? Doesn't every true Christian know (except the SDA leaders) that being driven out of a country by a religiously fanatical "mob,"

37 CHAPTER 5 37

BRO. HOUTEFF COMES TO AMERICA

because of false accusations by their Bishop, does not automatically make someone a criminal? If so, then these SDA leaders must say Paul and Barnabas were criminals, because they were falsely accused by religious leaders (the Jewish Pharisees) who "expelled them out of their coasts" (Acts 13:50)!

So how would the SDA leaders answer these questions: "What crimes did Bro. Houteff commit after coming to America?" "Can you produce police, ATF, CIA, or FBI records to prove he was a criminal?" If they did exist, they would have triumphantly quoted them in their anti-Rod literature (37:0). It is obvious, then, that they have no answer, because they know he was not a criminal charged by any of the law enforcement offices, either in Bulgaria or America! Their obvious purpose in writing up their own inflammatory account (37:0) of his coming to America is to stir up the laity to hate him and persecute Davidians. The reason why they make them believe he was a criminal in America, is because he exercised his constitutional right to practice freedom of religion! That's right, he not only practiced his religious beliefs, but he also published them for all his SDA friends to read. If that is criminal, then all of his SDA accusers are criminals of the worst kind because of what they publish! Think not? and do not know why? Then consider these facts:

SDA PRINT LIBERTY MAGAZINE BUT DENY LAYMEMBERS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

These SDA leaders published their LIBERTY Magazine to complain that the leaders of other Protestant churches do not allow their members the religious freedom guaranteed in our constitution to study SDA doctrines for themselves. And they put that complaint in this magazine to make it appear that they are piously promoting the concept of religious freedom as the constitutional right of every American. And the readers assume that these publishers live up to the religious freedom they promote, by allowing their own laity to read and study other doctrinal views. Instead (unknown to the readers), the SDA leaders hypocritically deny their own members their God-given right to practice religious freedom, by casting them out of the church if they dare study the SRod message for themselves! Is that the kind of religious freedom these SDA leaders are proud to promote to readers of their magazine?--casting SDA Christians from their own churches (WHR72:3) because they read other religious literature! Is that not saying to all Protestant Christians? "Do what we SDA leaders tell you to do, but not what we are doing"! No?

38 CHAPTER 5 38

BRO. HOUTEFF COMES TO AMERICA

Then would these SDA leaders pretend ignorance, and say they didn't know their own prophetess told them that casting members out of their churches is not a work given to man?

"We {SDA leaders} are not to say what constitutes the wheat {saints}, and what the tares {wicked}....The work of separation {casting out the wicked} is given to the angels of God, and not committed into the hands of any man."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 47:2--by EGW (boldings, braces were added).

Go ahead and prove it for yourself. Join the SDA church, and then let them find out that you are studying The Shepherd's Rod message, and see what the leaders will do to you. See if they will give you the freedom of religion guaranteed in the Constitution of the United States, which they hypocritically promote in their LIBERTY Magazine. What you will experience is what the General Conference leadership of the SDA church did to Bro. V.T. Houteff when they cast him out of the Seventh-day Adventist church in America, and what the Greek Orthodox Bishop had already done to him in Bulgaria (35:2)!

BRO. HOUTEFF BLESSED TWICE: CAST OUT OF THE GREEK AND THE SDA CHURCH

And that is exactly what the Pharisees did to Jesus and His Christian followers--cast them out of the Synagogue--church (Jn 9:22)! So whom does Jesus say are the real religious criminals today? Is it Bro. Houteff or his accusers who cast him and the Davidians out of the church? Every SDA knows the obvious answer by what Jesus said, "Blessed are ye, when men {SDA leaders} shall hate you, and when they shall separate {cast} you from their company" (Lu. 6:22). This proves Bro. Houteff was not a criminal as his enemies say; instead, Jesus "blessed" him when he was cast out of the Greek Orthodox church in Bulgaria, and "blessed" him again when he was cast out of the Seventh-day Adventist church in America!

BRO. HOUTEFF WROTE: "GOD BLESS THE MOB"

Bro. Houteff did not know at first why he was driven from Bulgaria to America by a church "mob" (35:4), as Joseph did not know why he was sold as a slave in Egypt (Gen. 37:23-28). Yet, rather than being troubled by what the mob did to him, Bro. Houteff recorded in his writings (35:2-4) that special event which dramatically changed his life, and which caused him to write these most explicit words, "God bless the mob" (35:4)! But why was he at first unhappy that the religious "mob" drove him out of Bulgaria to America (35:4), after which he blessed the mob?

39 CHAPTER 5 39

BRO. HOUTEFF COMES TO AMERICA

Because he understood from the Bible that in spite of Joseph being sold as a slave by his brothers, the providential workings of the Holy Spirit used this very incident to bring him to Egypt, which was a blessing in disguise to make him co-ruler of Egypt (Gen. 45:5, 8). So he saw that in spite of what the Bishop and the religious church "mob" did to him (35:4), the providential workings of the Holy Spirit used this religious incident to drive him to the land of America. This was a blessing in disguise, because he realized while he was a Sabbath School teacher in the Seventh-day Adventist church in California in 1929, that the Lord had chosen him to be Elijah, the last prophet to the Seventh-day Adventist church before Christ's second advent!

Let me tell you about this Elijah before I tell you about that special doctrine which Davidians teach, and the seven letters of doom to the two presidents. Then later you will understand why and how Ben L. Roden started the Branch Davidian movement, and the rise of David Koresh as their sinful messiah, which finally led to the Waco burn out. But don't forget my biographical narration; I am twenty years old, still living at old Mt. Carmel, going to the ministerial class and working there, and it is 1952. So hang in there as you read on about Elijah in Malachi's prophecy, and you will be glad you did.

40 CHAPTER 5 40

If you want to learn more about the seven letters of doom sent to Presidents Bush and Clinton, then click on---> STUDY

If you want to learn more about the special doctrine (Ezek. 9) which Davidian teach, then click on---> STUDY

WHY DO SDA ACCEPT OR REJECT BRO. HOUTEFF AS ELIJAH?

Isaiah the prophet was inspired of God to write these words about His Son Jesus: "He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him." (Isa. 53:2). Jesus was not a very handsome, attractive person of beauty like David's son Absolom (2 Sam. 14:25). He was just a common man that everyone would pass by on the streets and give no notice to Him; but nonetheless He was the Son of God! Therefore, it was not His comeliness that attracted the people but His heavenly teachings and the Godly life He lived. He was a perfect example of the kind of common people that God has chosen to be prophets to guide His people, such as Amos, a common "herdman" (Amos 1:1).

Therefore, the obvious reason for Jesus not being comely was because the hearts of the people who worship idols are turned to men who are tall, handsome and comely, such as King Saul (1 Sam. 9;2). But the saints whose hearts are turned to God, and who do not question His choice of the person to guide them, will follow the guidance of His prophet or prophetess by what they teach, not by what they looked like. Whether or not they are comely does not matter to them; what they desire is the truth (Jn. 14:6) so that they may worship Jesus!

Among the millions of people in the Seventh-day Adventist church, there are a few saints who believe that Sis. E.G. White was the prophetess (1 S.M. 34:5) of the Lord, not because she was a very beautiful woman with many talents, but because of the truths she wrote in the Testimonies. To learn what is the Testimonies, note whom Paul the apostle spoke of:

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son {Jesus}, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds."--Hebrews 1:1, 2 (bold emphasis, braces added).

Jesus has spoken to His saints in the "last days" by the "testimony of Jesus: for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy." (Rev. 19:10). And the person He chose to speak through in the last days was Sis. E.G. White, whose books contain the things revealed to her from Jesus, which were entitled Testimonies For The Church or The Spirit of Prophecy. Now take a close look at Sis. White's picture. Would you reject Sis. White as a prophetess because she was not comely? If so, then there is a good chance that you would reject Jesus if you lived in His day, for He was not comely either! So what do you see in Sis. White--a comely and delicate woman of great beauty? No? Then how can you know if she was really a prophetess of God or not? The obvious answer is by reading, investigating, and studying what her writings. After all, the Bible was written by men whom you have never seen; so you cannot admire them for their comeliness. Yet, you claim to believe the Bible; therefore, it must be because of what these prophets wrote, not what they looked like! Note some of the truths she wrote in the Testimonies, such as her prediction that Elijah the prophet was to come to the Seventh-day Adventist church:

GOD ELIJAH SENT TO THE SDA CHURCH

"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 fact when He said: "And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel as that time." (Judges 4:4). Did you notice that God's Word does not confuse the saints by saying 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) as a "she" and a "prophetess"! And that is the reason why Malachi said that "Elijah the prophet" (Mal. 4:5) is to be a male person "he" (Mal. 4:6), as the first Elijah--John the baptist was a "he" (Mt. 3:1-3). This irrefutable fact proves, then, that Sis. White was not referring to herself (a "she") as Elijah, but to a "somebody"--a "he" who "is to come" after her day.

Sis. E.G. White, however, did not announce to the Seventh-day Adventist church that Elijah had appeared before she died in 1915. Thus, its obvious that Elijah must come sometime after 1915, and  the saints must study to find him. But they must not be guided by the carnal heart (Jer. 17:9), which would look for a tall, handsome, attractive and comely person. Instead, they must follow what the prophetess of the Lord wrote:

"The Lord often works where we {Seventh-day Adventists} least expect Him. He surprises us by revealing His power through instruments {Elijah the prophet} of His own choice {Bro. Houteff}, while He passes by the men {favorite ministers} to whom we have looked as those through whom light should come. God desires us to receive the truth upon its own merits--because it is truth {not because the person He sends is comely}."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 106:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

Now take a close look at Bro. Houteff's picture. Is he the "instrument" of your choice to be the Elijah to come? Do you have an imagined idea of the Seventh-day Adventist person that you desire to be Elijah--someone who is tall, handsome, attractive, comely, and especially having many talents. If he does not fit your imagination, then will you reject him because he was not comely? If so, then there is a good chance that you would reject Jesus if you lived in His day, for He was not comely either! So what do you see in Bro. Houteff--a comely man? No? Then how can you know if he really was Elijah the prophet sent by God or not? his writings. If you judge him by his "outward appearance," then there is a good chance you would reject him, while you may accept someone else who has the outward appearance you desire!

CARNAL HEART LOOKS ON THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE

So why is it so hard for men and women to be led to the truth by an unattractive and uncomely woman (prophetess) or man (prophet)? Because they are guided by the carnal heart! When Adam and Eve sinned, the propensities of sin was planted in the hearts of all mankind, and that is the reason why Jesus said: "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.' (Matt. 12:34). Man speaks from his fleshly heart because "the life of the flesh is in the blood" (Lev. 17:11), which the heart pumps to the brain so the mind receives the needed oxygen and nourishment to promote intelligence. It is from this intelligence, which is motivated by the carnal heart, that caused men and women to speak "out of the abundance of the heart" against Jesus and the prophets. But the saints are guided by a new heart (intelligence) implanted there by the Holy Spirit. They do not judge a prophet by his "outward appearance," but by his writings. This is what the Lord told Samuel the prophet to do:

"But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."--1 Samuel 16:7 (bold emphasis added).

And because "man looketh on the outward appearance," there are millions in the Seventh-day Adventist church who would not consider the views of Scripture, which are presented in the writings of Elijah the prophet, because of what he looks like, and because of their prejudice against him if he is not comely:

"Those who allow prejudice to bar the mind against the reception of truth cannot receive the divine enlightenment. Yet, when a view of Scripture is presented {by Elijah}, many do not ask, Is is true--in harmony with God's word? but, By whom is it advocated? and unless it comes through the very channel {favorite minister} that pleases them {who is tall, handsome, comely}, they do not accept it. So thoroughly satisfied {lukewarm--Rev. 3:16} are they with their own ideas that they will not examine the Scripture evidence {by Elijah} with a desire to learn, but refuse to be interested, merely because of their prejudices."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 105, 106 (bold emphasis, braces added).

It is for these reasons and others that millions of people in the Seventh-day Adventist church will never find Elijah the prophet, because his "outward appearance" (not being tall, handsome, comely) does not please them because of their prejudices. While only a few saints (144,000 and those "with" them) who are not prejudiced will investigate his writings and judge them in the light of the word of God, not on what he may or may not look like.

"God will not condemn any {Seventh-day Adventist} at the judgment because they honestly believed a lie, or conscientiously cherished error; but it {God's condemnation} will be {on them} because they neglected the opportunities of making themselves acquainted with truth {study Elijah's message}."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 437:1 (bold emphasis, braces added)