Staying on the Ship: Biblical Analysis: The SDA Church True Church Until Jesus Comes

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Staying on the ship

Continuing from the last post…SDA members have added the Impressive Dream to their arsenal regarding the denominational name, and their belief that the denomination represents the true church at Christ’s second coming. An account of the dream is below:

Chapter 69—An Impressive Dream

“Dear Brother M,

I had an impressive dream last night. I thought that you were on a strong vessel, sailing on very rough waters. Sometimes the waves beat over the top, and you were drenched with water. You said: “I shall get off; this vessel is going down.” “No,” said one who appeared to be the captain, “this vessel sails into the harbor. She will never go down.” But you answered: “I shall be washed overboard. As I am neither captain or mate, who cares? I shall take [572] my chances on that vessel you see yonder.” Said the captain: “I shall not let you go there, for I know that vessel will strike the rocks before she reaches the harbor.” You straightened yourself up, and said with great positiveness: “This vessel will become a wreck; I can see it just as plain as can be.” The captain looked upon you with piercing eye, and said firmly: “I shall not permit you to lose your life by taking that boat. The timbers of her framework are worm-eaten, and she is a deceptive craft. If you had more knowledge you could discern between the spurious and the genuine, the holy and that appointed to utter ruin.”

I awoke, but it is this dream that leads me to write to you. I was feeling deeply over some of these things when a letter came, saying that you were “under great temptation and trial.” What is it, Brother M? Is Satan tempting you again? Is God permitting you to be brought to the same place where you have failed before? Will you now let unbelief take possession of your soul? Will you fail every time, as did the children of Israel? God help you to resist the devil and to come forth stronger from every trial of your faith!

Be careful how you move. Make straight paths for your feet. Close the door to unbelief and make God your strength. If perplexed, hold still; make no move in the dark. I am deeply concerned for your soul. This may be the last trial that God will grant you. Advance not one step in the downward road to perdition. Wait, and God will help you. Be patient, and the clear light will appear. If you yield to impressions you will lose your soul, and the soul is of great value with God.

I have been writing upon the first volume of Great Controversy, and it makes me feel very solemn as I review these important subjects— creation and the events from the fall of Satan to the fall of Adam. The Lord seems very near me as I write, and I am deeply moved as I contemplate this controversy from the beginning to the [573] present time. The workings of the powers of darkness are laid clearly before my mind. Most trying times are before us; and Satan, clad in angel robes, will come to souls with his temptations as he came to Christ in the wilderness. He will quote Scripture; and unless our life is hid with Christ in God, he will surely bind our souls in unbelief.

Time is very short, and all that is to be done must be done quickly. The angels are holding the four winds, and Satan is taking advantage of everyone who is not fully established in the truth. Every soul is to be tested. Every defect in the character, unless it is overcome by the help of God’s Spirit, will become a sure means of destruction. I feel as never before the necessity for our people to be energized by the spirit of the truth, for Satan’s devices will ensnare every soul who has not made God his strength. The Lord has much work to be done; and if we do what He has appointed for us to do, He will work with our efforts. 5T572-3″ {End of quote}

There are many devout SDA members who believe that the ship in the symbolically represents the SDA church, and that the church may stumble but does not fall. From this they conclude further that to leave the church because of its “flaws” would be a mistake, a grave one, for only those that remain on the SDA ship can be saved. They label those who leave the church and start another church/ministry as cursed off shoots.

What does the Bible say? Below is a response I wrote to someone concerning this subject.

I have read https://adventmessenger.org/conrad-vines-martin-luther-moment-and-the-real-reason-why-pastor-ron-kelly-was-fired/ concerning the recent events that have transpired between The Michigan Conference/The General Conference, and yourself and Ron Kelly. I have read or listened to two or three other similar articles/youtube videos. It is with great sadness that I read/listen to these articles. The major reason for this sadness is that the people speaking or writing concerning this matter, do not and cannot show what they believe from the scriptures.

I would like to share a few thoughts from the Bible concerning the situation which I think are highly relevant, and will be a great benefit to you, Before I proceed, I want to remind you, that I am not a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. My sole interest in these events/affairs is you as a person, whom I have meant and corresponded with several times, especially the time we spent at the Daniel 11 Committee meeting.

Psalm 11:3 KJV — If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

The main issue, point at issue is the SDA Church God’s true church today? Historically, the Bible accounts of many “persons/people(s)/churches claiming to be God’s chosen people, God’s true people/servants/churches, and are/were not. The Jewish Nation is such a case and point. How many times did they claim to be God’s people and were not? The Catholic Church? Providing other examples and evidence would be a waste of time, because you know this.

To get to the point as quickly as possible. What is the church? How can one identify God’s true people?

Revelation 12:17 KJV — And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

1 Kings 3:14 KJV — And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

2 Samuel 8:15 KJV — And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.

The point is that obedience has been (conditional) and always will be the criteria for the members of God’s church, none other.

2 Chronicles 7:17-22 KJV — And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel. But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house? And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.

Revelation 2:4-5 KJV — Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Jeremiah 15:1 KJV — Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.

Hosea 1:2-11 KJV — The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD. So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son. And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel…And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away…Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son. Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.

Jeremiah 5:7-9 KJV — How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses. They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour’s wife. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

Jeremiah 7:3-16 KJV — Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these. For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour; If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever. Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD. But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not; Therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim. Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee.

Hebrews 3:12-19, One could go on.

Continuing: There are many references in The Old Testament concerning some reality at that point in time will be forever, such as,

2 Chronicles 8:8 KJV — But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, them did Solomon make to pay tribute until this day.

Then, later the Old Testament testifies that such and such a king rebelled, and refused to pay tribute. Consider Mal. 2:5-8. Is the Bible wrong, in error? Obviously, you know the answer: the phrases “until this day” or “for ever”, would have been in the strictest sense forever, but were conditional on obedience.

Continuing. Biblically, Revelation 14:6-12, Rev. 10, saw their historical fulfilments in the Millerite movement, and the establishment of the SDA. My opinion, the SDA church during its beginning was God’s true church. You might be thinking, “you have proved my point…we know that in any “church body,” there is a mixed multitude, wheat and tares (Matt. 13)…God is merciful…gives a “church” time to repent. Does the Bible account of any church continuing which has committed such apostasy, which has been committed by the SDA Church?

Let’s us briefly review the SDA Church record, which for argument’s sake we will start with; The rejection of the 1888 message, rejection of the organizational restructuring of 1901, rejecting the rebuke for incorporating worldly practices into the publishing and sanitariums…the building of larger edifices which led to the burning of the printing office and sanitarium at Battle Creek, during WWII, SDA Church’s granting US government permission to perform “medical research” on Negros…1957, Donald Grey Barnhouse, editor of the journal “Eternity,” and Walter R. Martin, evangelical theologian, wanted to write a book about Seventh-day Adventists proclaiming that they were a non-Christian “sect.”…What was the response?…The SDA behind the scenes participation at Vatican II…fast forwarding to today…Ordained Homosexual Priests…Woman elders…coffee bars…marijuana bars…changed logo…rejection of the sanctuary message…the “reelection” of Ted Wilson at the last General Conference Meeting…whose member’s lives cannot be differentiated from the world

Does the Bible account of any church continuing for a period of time and under which such apostasy has committed, which has been committed by the SDA Church? Read Hosea Chapter 1, or the whole book for that matter.

Further, we are living in the Day of Atonement, which Jesus’ work is to make an end of sin. Therefore, is not the standard in our time higher than any other time in earth’s history? How can Jesus cleanse the heavenly sanctuary from sin, when such sin exists, is being committed by His professed people? Even more unexplainable, even more evidence, is your testimony of how the SDA church treated you before this. I have many more like comments to make. But I will stop there. I hope we can continue this conversation in the future. If you have any comments or questions, please let me know.

The Biblical Basis for the Denomination Name Seventh Day Adventist

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The Biblical Basis for the Denomination Name Seventh Day Adventist

Below is an excerpt from The Great Second Advent Movement by J N Loughborough which gives his account of how the Seventh Day Adventist corporate name came to be the chosen for the organization of believers in 1863:

“A Denominational Name

This conference also took into consideration the subject of a name by which our people should be called. This again called forth a diversity of opinions, some pleading for one name and some for another. The “Church of God” being proposed, it was objected to on the ground that it gave none of the distinctive features of our faith, while the name “Seventh-day Adventists” would not only set forth our faith in the near coming of Christ, but would also show that we were observers of the Seventh-day Sabbath. So unanimous was the assembly in favor of the latter name that when put to vote, only one man voted against it, and he soon afterward withdrew his objection.

The Name Approved

In Testimony No. 6, we read: “No name which we can take will be appropriate but that which accords with our profession, and expresses our faith, and marks us as a peculiar people. . . . “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.” The effect of the testimony was to settle forever this question in the minds of the believers.”

Sister White wrote the following:

Chapter 42—Our Denominational Name [223]

“I was shown in regard to the remnant people of God taking a name. Two classes were presented before me. One class embraced the great bodies of professed Christians. They were trampling upon God’s law and bowing to a papal institution. They were keeping the first day of the week as the Sabbath of the Lord. The other class, who were but few in number, were bowing to the great Lawgiver. They were keeping the fourth commandment. The peculiar and prominent features of their faith were the observance of the seventh day, and waiting for the appearing of our Lord from heaven.

The conflict is between the requirements of God and the requirements of the beast. The first day, a papal institution which directly contradicts the fourth commandment, is yet to be made a test by the two-horned beast. And then the fearful warning from God declares the penalty of bowing to the beast and his image. They shall drink the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation.

No name which we can take will be 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. Here is the line of distinction between the worshipers of God and those who worship the beast and receive his mark. The great conflict is between the commandments of God and the requirements of the beast. It is because the saints are keeping all ten of the commandments that the dragon makes war upon them. If they will lower the standard and yield the peculiarities of their faith, the dragon will be at peace; but they excite his ire because they have dared to raise the standard and unfurl their banner in opposition to the Protestant world, who are worshiping the institution of papacy.

The name Seventh-day Adventist carries the true features of our [224] 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, 217 218 Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1 and will lead to repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. I was shown that almost every fanatic who has arisen, who wishes to hide his sentiments that he may lead away others, claims to belong to the church of God. Such a name would at once excite suspicion; for it is employed to conceal the most absurd errors. This name is too indefinite for the remnant people of God. It would lead to the supposition that we had a faith which we wished to cover up.” {end of quote}

This is an extract from history. The most acknowledged source quoted regarding the nobility of the name Seventh Day Adventist is from Selected Messages Book 2.

“Chapter 49—A Distinctive Name and People.

Not Ashamed of Our Name.

We are Seventh-day Adventists. Are we ashamed of our name? We answer, “No, no! We are not. It is the name the Lord has given us. It points out the truth that is to be the test of the churches.”—Letter 110, 1902.

We are Seventh-day Adventists, and of this name we are never to be ashamed. As a people we must take a firm stand for truth and righteousness. Thus we shall glorify God. We are to be delivered from dangers, not ensnared and corrupted by them. That this may be, we must look ever to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.—Letter 106, 1903.”

This was the name that Ellen White claimed God endorsed to represent the Church at the time of its incorporation in 1863, and continued to promote until her death. The name appears 1,542 times, when I search Seventh Day Adventist in my Ellen White App for Apple. What is the significance of the name Seventh Day Adventist as it relates to our topic the false prophet?

As shown above, the false prophet is apostate Protestantism. The true church today is Protestant. The Millerite Movement was Protestant. As we have proven already, Seven Day Adventists are not Protestant, for they do not believe in sola scriptura, but the Bible and the “Spirit of Prophecy,” the “Spirit of Prophecy” being the writings of Ellen White. This begets the question, is the name Seventh Day Adventist in harmony with Protestantism? To answer this question, we must first ask, does the corporate name “Seventh Day Adventist” appear in the Bible? The answer is No. However, this fact does not prove that the corporate name “Seventh Day Adventist” is not Protestant, or necessarily a wrong name. We are in totally harmony with the principles stated in the quotations above that the name represents, the sabbath and the commandments of God, etc. This still begets the question, does not answer the question, does the name “Seventh Day Adventist” biblically represent the Church of God? Does the name “Seventh Day Adventist” totally encapsulate, is its meaning a complete representation of the end time church of God? Ellen White stated above that this is the name the Lord has given the church.

The reader may ask, why raise this issue? Because there are many lawsuits, legal issues raised over the name “Seventh Day Adventist. The main foundation for these contentions is Ellen White’s prophetic testimony that the “Seventh Day Adventist” name given by God, the name is from a Divine source. However, when you read the accounts above, no scriptures are given to support this fact.

Loughborough stated in his book: The effect of the testimony was to settle forever this question in the minds of the believers. The source of the credibility by which SDA Church, then and today, holds concerning the name ”Seventh Day Adventist” is Ellen White. This is undeniable. The SDA Church may argue such scripture testimony exists, which the author does not know, then let the SDA Church put forth such reference.

Since the SDA Church may make such a claim, we will answer the question, What does the Bible say? In the Book of Revelation 1:4, 11, 20 reference the seven churches Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. God has given the book of Revelation a title different from any other book in the Bible, signifying that it is open to all. It is the “revelation of Jesus Christ.”

The names of these churches, according to the definitions of the words, are brought out the religious features of those periods of the gospel age which they respectively were to represent. The history of the Christian church is repeated four times in different figures, illustrating almost every phase of experience the church will pass through. Revelation chapters 2 and 3 prophetically narrate events concerning the histories of the church periods. The order of the churches represent a chronological sequence of the history of the church. This history begins with the Ephesus church and ends with Laodicea. The purpose of this treatise is not a dissertation on the prophetic interpretation(s) of the book of Revelation, but to briefly introduce the topic in relation to our topic the false prophet. There are many different interpretations regarding the exact time periods that the seven churches represent. For our discussion, we are going to apply the interpretation which holds the first four churches have an end to their periods, the last three ending period is when Christ comes. Since our explanation/presentation does not depend on the starting dates for the periods, we will leave them out of discussion.

We will make a comment to the assertion that the Philadelphia Church period extends until the time of Jesus’ second coming. In support of this premise: The open door reference as part of the Philadelphia church is a symbolic reference to the Day of Atonement, the final phase of Jesus’ earthly ministry in the Sanctuary Service. Hence the Philadelphia church period is one of the churches associated with the end of time. Philadelphia is one of the two Churches that in its introduction Jesus does not identify having any faults, Smyrna is the other. Revelation 3:8 testifies that The Philadelphia Church “hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name” and verse and in addition verse 10 foretells “hast kept the word of my patience.” Continuing verse 11 declares that they hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Revelation 14:1-5 foretells of 144,000, believers that pass through the tribulation, who were not defiled with women; for they are virgins and in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. We conclude that there will be some who will remain faithful when Jesus comes. In the prophecy concerning the next Church period Laodicea, Jesus has nothing good to say about Laodicea in His introduction of the church. If the Philadelphia Church period were to totally end at some point, then as a result of this end, those faithful Philadelphian believers would have to somehow pass through into the Laodicean period, which Jesus in His introduction finds nothing good. This creates a paradox, contradiction that cannot exist. Hence our supposition that the Philadelphia Church dispensation continues until Jesus comes again. By the way, we may infer that the means by which they were able to remain faithful through all the trials is that they bought (or obtained) the gold tried in the fire, the white raiment, and anointed their eyes with eyesalve,

Now with the bookkeeping done, and all the pieces in place, let us now proceed to answer the question is the name Seventh Day Adventist in harmony with Protestantism? The name given by God according to the scriptures?

As we stated above the name “Seventh Day Adventist” is not found in the Bible. The name Philadelphia is? Just a review, the following attributes are represented in the name “Seventh Day Adventist:”

the line of distinction between the worshipers of God and those who worship the beast and receive his mark. The great conflict is between the commandments of God and the requirements of the beast. It is because the saints are keeping all ten of the commandment (especially God’s true Sabbath)

Now let us consider what the name Philadelphia signifies, represents from the Book Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith:

· The word Philadelphia signifies brotherly love, and expresses the position and spirit of those believers,

· Selfishness and [367] covetousness were laid aside, and a spirit of consecration and sacrifice was cherished. The Spirit of God was with every true believer, and his praise upon every tongue. Those who were not in that movement knew nothing of the deep searching of heart, consecration of all to God, peace, joy in the Holy Spirit, and pure, fervent love for one another, which true believers then enjoyed. Those who were in that movement are aware that language would fail to describe that holy, happy state.

· The Key of David. — A key is a symbol of power.

· The event the opening of under consideration can appropriately apply to the opening of Jesus’ ministration in the most holy place…the cleansing of the sanctuary in Daniel 8:14.

· The Word of My Patience. — Says John, in Revelation 14:12, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Those who now live in patient, faithful obedience to the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, will be kept in the hour of temptation and peril just before us.

· From the point above, Overcomers. The blessings of the overcomers are: I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.

· Behold, I Come Quickly. — The second coming of Christ is here again brought to view, and with more startling emphasis than in any of the preceding messages. The nearness of that event is here urged upon the attention of believers. The message applies to a period when that great event is impending; and in this we have most indubitable evidence of the prophetic nature of these messages.

These are some of the attributes that one associates with the name Philadelphia. The name Philadelphian is found in the Bible, where the name “Seventh Day Adventist” is not. We will stop here and let the reader conclude for himself/herself.

Roger Maniccia

Lawrenceburg, Tenn

rmaniccia@att.net

Insignificant Sin?

I have been reflecting on a conversation Wednesday with someone . His question: a person is a Christian, walking in the light, and he commits a minor, small, “insignificant” offense…

Is there such a thing as a small, minor, ” insignificant”? It is difficult for us to understand the answer is no. The concept that one either righteous (100%) or evil is a difficult concept for one to accept . There is no third condition. That 99.99% righteous, the .01%, is not insignificant, and will not lead one to eventually become 100%, but 100% wicked.

I was watching 2 young girls, two and 4 years old…they were running, launching themselves and punching a man (obese) in his mid section. The girls were not hurting him in any way. All three were laughing, having “harmless” fun. Was/is it “harmless?” One might say the “l” am over reacting, fanatical.

Consider, all Eve did was take a little nibble…the result? all the misery, suffering in the world today, the cross, etc.

“…Lucifer himself did not at first see (in his rebellion) whither he was drifting; he did not understand the real nature of his feelings…” GC 495.3

James 1:14-15 (KJV) 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Consider, there is no such thing as trifling with sin.

TRI’FLE, v.i. To act or talk without seriousness, gravity, weight or dignity; to act or talk with levity.

Have a blessed day,

Happy October 31 Day

Happy October 31 Day

On October 31, 2022, millions of people celebrate Halloween. One could read the history of Halloween from sources such as https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween#:~:text=The%20tradition%20originated%20with%20the,of%20the%20traditions%20of%20Samhain from which the following is summarized:

Celts, who celebrated their new year on November 1, believed that on the night before the New Year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other’s fortunes.

By A.D. 43, the Roman Empire had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the 400 years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain. The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple, and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of bobbing for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.

On May 13, A.D. 609, Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome in honor of all Christian martyrs, and the Catholic feast of All Martyrs Day was established in the Western church. Pope Gregory III later expanded the festival to include all saints as well as all martyrs, and moved the observance from May 13 to November 1. By the 9th century, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands, where it gradually blended with and supplanted older Celtic rites. In A.D. 1000, the church made November 2 All Souls’ Day, a day to honor the dead. It’s widely believed today that the church was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, church-sanctioned holiday. All Souls’ Day was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels and devils. The All Saints’ Day celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints’ Day) and the night before it, the traditional night of Samhain in the Celtic religion, began to be called All-Hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween.

The celebration of Halloween was extremely limited in colonial New England because of the rigid Protestant belief systems there. Halloween was much more common in Maryland and the southern colonies. One can see from this brief summary that Halloween’s (and all saints day) origin is from the pagan feasts which became one of the holidays (holy days) adopted by the Catholic Church. The truth of the matter is that there is nothing holy about the day. Further, that is the most wicked, evil, devilish, ungodly, immoral of all the pagan holidays that were adopted by the Catholic Church. When one considers all the pagan holidays (holy days) which were adopted by Catholic Church, such as Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day, etc., one may find some virtue in them. For example, Christmas and Easter speak concerning Jesus. St. Valentine’s references love. All souls day honors saints, a person acknowledged as holy or virtuous. However, there is not one virtuous or moral element associated with Halloween. Halloween as documented above deals solely with the occult, devils, the worship of the dead, tricks, animal sacrifices, ghosts, witchcraft, frightening, suffering, the grotesque, and vandalism. This is the ideology, practice that inundate the minds of the populace, especially the young. Evil is glorified. This ideology and practice totally misrepresents the character of God, the God of the living. But worst, it degrades the human race (man). God made man in His image, upright possessing the divine character of God. God made man to be kings and queens, princes and prince, to reign with Him on His throne, the highest calling of all His creation. Halloween inculcates, fills man’s mind with the thought or desire to be something else other than what God created man to be. Further, men are lead to imagine themselves to be something else other than God created them to be. Men imagine themselves as being all manner of evil imaginable from ghosts, devils, pirates, serial killers, harlots, and worse. Worst of all, this mindset is inculcated in the minds of innocent children, as they participate, observe all manner of vice associated with the “day’s celebration.” Then we wonder why or how children get the idea that they are transgender. Let us remember the day October 31; the day in 1517 that the priest and scholar Martin Luther approaches the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, and nails a piece of paper to it containing the 95 revolutionary opinions that would begin the Protestant Reformation (which event history.com calls a legend). Let us education the people concerning the protestant reformation which freed the people from the gross darkness of the middle ages (1260 years) and originated a movement by which we possess the liberties which we enjoy today, freedom of conscience and right to worship God according to the dictates of one’s conscience. Further, may our lives be a witness of God’s divine nature, the purpose which God made man. God be with you toward this end. Happy October 31 Day.

Protestantism: A Principle

This is the introductory, first discuss on the website. What topic would be more appropriate for this introduction other than Protestantism. Today, people have misidentified the reaction of the German princes, their protest against the practices of the Catholic Church, as Protestantism. There are many who claim and believe that the protest, which began on October 31, 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis, is over. Hence, Protestantism is over/dead. However, Protestantism is not founded upon nor based upon a protest. Protestantism itself is a set of beliefs and principles which the German Princes stood for. Below is an excerpt from the Great Controversy 1911 by Ellen White which clearly establishes this point/premise:

One of the noblest testimonies ever uttered for the Reformation was the Protest offered by the Christian princes of Germany at the Diet of Spires in 1529. The courage, faith, and firmness of those men of God gained for succeeding ages liberty of thought and of conscience. Their Protest gave to the reformed church the name of Protestant; its principles are “the very essence of Protestantism.”— D’Aubigne, b. 13, ch. 6 (GC197.1)

…A solemn declaration was therefore drawn up and presented to the Diet (by the German Princes):  (GC202)

“We protest by these presents, before God, our only Creator, Preserver, Redeemer, and Saviour, and who will one day be our Judge, as well as before all men and all creatures, that we, for us and [203] for our people, neither consent nor adhere in any manner whatsoever to the proposed decree, in anything that is contrary to God, to His holy word, to our right conscience, to the salvation of our souls.” (GC203)

“What! we ratify this edict! We assert that when Almighty God calls a man to His knowledge, this man nevertheless cannot receive the knowledge of God!” “There is no sure doctrine but such as is conformable to the word of God…. The Lord forbids the teaching of any other doctrine…. The Holy Scriptures ought to be explained by other and clearer texts; … this Holy Book is, in all things necessary for the Christian, easy of understanding, and calculated to scatter the darkness. We are resolved, with the grace of God, to maintain the pure and exclusive preaching of His only word, such as it is contained in the biblical books of the Old and New Testaments, without adding anything thereto that may be contrary to it. This word is the only truth; it is the sure rule of all doctrine and of all life, and can never fail or deceive us. He who builds on this foundation shall stand against all the powers of hell, while all the human vanities that are set up against it shall fall before the face of God.”(GC203)

“For this reason we reject the yoke that is imposed on us.” “At the same time we are in expectation that his imperial majesty will behave toward us like a Christian prince who loves God above all things; and we declare ourselves ready to pay unto him, as well as unto you, gracious lords, all the affection and obedience that are our just and legitimate duty.”—Ibid., b. 13, ch. 6.

*Another account/explanation maybe found in Chapter 2 What is Protestantism in the Book “Lessons on the reformation” by A.T. Jones

There you have it. Protestantism is a principle, the Bible only, the freedom of one to read and interpret the Bible for himself, and the freedom of one to worship God according to the dictates of their conscience. As a principle, Protestantism cannot die. People may choose to ignore or reject the principle, but the principle itself cannot die.

The principles of the Bible can be found in 2 Tim. 3:16-17, Deut. 8:2-3, and Ps. 119:105, 130. The principle of freedom of conscience is found in Deut. 30:15-20, Josh. 24:14-27, Isa. 1:18-20. The sanctuary service also incorporates the word of God (Bible) in its principles. The Table of Showbread in the Holy Place is symbolic of one imbibing/eating/reading the word of God. Protestantism is a fundamental principle/belief of the Philadelphia church. As Philadelphians, let us be true to, embrace and practice the Protestant Principles.

The Necessity of the study of the Sanctuary

The sanctuary service is a summary, shadow, outline of the plan of salvation, or as Sarah Peck’s book is titled “The Pathway Back to the Throne of God.” The plan of salvation is first spoken of in Genesis 3:15. The next reference is in Genesis Chpt 4:1-7. The first complete description of the pattern is in Exo. 25:8-9, then Exodus Chapters 25-40, Lev 1-6, 16.

The next reference concerning the temple, or change is the temple that Solomon built, which David received the diagram of and made preparation for. 1 Kings 1-10, 2 Chron 1-9 and more.

In this temple service, there is change in the duties particularly of the Levites, because sanctuary is no longer a temporary structure, but permanent. Hence the possible explanation for the need of the change of responsibility.

Ezra and Nehemiah make reference of the rebuilding of the temple. I believe Nehemiah represents, is a type of our journey to heaven, corresponding to the feast of weeks.

Then there is the temple references mentioned in Ezekiel Chpts 41-48.

Daniel speaks of the sanctuary in Dan. 7:9-13, 8:13-14, and other places.

After Jesus’ resurrection, the sacrificial system, which was the type of the true was done away with. Jesus’ ministry began in heaven, in the Holy Place, on the day of Pentecost. The book of Hebrews speaks of the reality of Jesus’ ministry in the true sanctuary in heaven. Also, there is a change in the reference to God’s people on the earth in 1 Peter 2.

Then we also know of Jesus’ ministry from the Holy (daily) to Most Holy (yearly, Day of Atonement, Three angels messages, Rev 11:19, etc.)

Even Revelation 20:6, which references the first resurrection states the following: Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Here we see that even during the 1000 years judgment of the dead, God’s people will still be priests.

The end of the temple is in Revelation 21: 22 “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.”

It is not until the complete destruction/end of sin, that there is no temple.

Thoughts to study:

Similarly there are three entrances/doors in the sanctuary service. These represent three experiences of the saints:

1.    Outer Court Experience, repentance, redemption, justification

2.    Inner Court, First apartment, sanctification

3.    Inner Court, second apartment, glorification

Since there are three doors, then it would not be unreasonable to consider the three temples mentioned in association with the three experiences, Moses (outer court), Solomon (first apartment, holy place), Ezekiel (second apartment, most holy place).

Remember Jesus is the focal point of the service. Consider, the sanctuary service in light of the three offices held by Jesus: Prophet, Kingly Priest (kingdom of Grace, Priesthood of mercy), Priestly King (King of Kings, executing judgment). Hence there may be a potential need for changes in the services, roles of the saints, etc.

Also, I suggest that before we can fully understand Ezekiel’s temple we need to fully study Solomon’s temple.

I also suggest that everyone read “The Sanctuary” by Crosier, “The Cross and It’s Shadow” by Haskell, and finally “The Consecrated Way to Christian Perfection” by A T Jones. Also reading “The Pathway Back to the Throne of God.” by Sarah Peck will not hurt.

M L Andreason in his book “The Sanctuary Service”, p341-57 lists and then describes various aspects, parts of the sanctuary service in detail.