amid the confusing cries...

[rainbowinthesky]

In 1901 Mrs White wrote: "We may have to remain in this world because of insubordination many more years." Evangelism, 696. In 1904 she prophesied that some day the Lord would again let His light shine upon the people:

"Amid the confusing cries, 'Lo, here is Christ! Lo, there is Christ!' will be borne a special testimony, a special message of truth appropriate for this time, which message is to be received, believed, and acted upon." E.G. White, B.C. vol.7,984.

I believe that these words were written more for us than for any other generation of adventists since 1888. Isn't it a fact that there is a multitude of confusing voices within and without Adventism today--like never before--at a time when the Lord would have the 1888 message revived,--a special testimony, a special message of truth appropriate for this time, which message is to be received, believed, and acted upon?

In spite of the confusing voices, there is absolutely no need on our part to speculate as to what this special testimony is, or to guess as to what this special message of truth is, for the Lord has already revealed it to us in clear, distinct lines. "It is the truth that is efficacious, not fanciful ideas." E.G. White, Bible Commentary, vol.7,984. "The only remedy is belief in the truth, acceptance of the light." T.M.91.

When that special testimony was first sent to us in demonstration and power of the Holy Spirit at the 1888 General Conference, it was resisted. "The light that is to lighten the whole earth with its glory was resisted, and by the action of our own brethren has been in a great degree kept away from the world." Selected Messages, vol.1, 235.

About seven years after the Minneapolis meeting in 1888, Mrs White, under the subtitle, REJECTING THE LIGIHT, wrote these words: "I would speak in warning to those who stood for years resisting light and cherishing the spirit of opposition. How long will hate and despise the messengers of Christ's righteousness? God has given them His message. They bear the Word of the Lord: The grace of the Holy Spirit--that brings salvation to all men, Titus 2:11-- has been offered to you again and again. There is SALVATION for you but ONLY through the MERITS of Jesus Christ... UNLESS you make it your LIFE BUSINESS to LOOK to Jesus and to ACCEPT His MERITS, which it is your PRIVILEGE to CLAIM, you can no more be saved than Peter could walk upon the water unless he kept his eyes fixed steadily upon Jesus." Testimonies to Ministers, 96,97,93.

This is, if we are willing to see and understand, the special message of truth that God is again sending to us today. "Take hold by faith of the MERITS of Christ and the soul-cleansing blood will be applied." Faith & Works, 96. For "The MERITS of Jesus blot out transgressions and clothe us with the robe of righteousness woven in the loom of Heaven." Evangelism, 186, bottom of page. And "His righteousness accomplishes everything," as "it is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God." F.W.27; T.M.92.

"The matter of salvation is just as simple as ABC. But we don't understand it." Faith & Works, 64.

"The MERITS of Christ's SACRIFICE are SUFFICIENT to present to the Father in our behalf" (Steps to Christ, 36) in order to bring the gift of the Holy Spirit which brings all the other blessings in its train! "Looking unto Jesus and trusting in His MERITS, we appropriate the blessings of light and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. " 5 T 744.

May God bless each and everyone as day by day we may come to God just as we are, sinful, helpless, dependent, trusting wholly in the MERITS of the blood that was shed for us upon Calvary's cross. "Believe it because it is the truth, because God says it, and lay hold upon the MERITS of the blood of Christ." Faith & Works, 76.

"Though millions who need to be healed will reject His offered mercy, not one who trusts in His MERITS will be left to perish." Patriarchs & Prophets, 432,203.

 

[hownow]

The 1888 message was essentially intended to permanently put the kibosh on legalism, or as I've heard other Christians call it, "Galatians syndrome". Starting off in the life of faith by the Spirit but then gradually drifting back to the flesh under the law. There are some Christian groups out there to this very day who practice "turning people into Jews in order to make them Christians" -- meaning, the route they practice for evangelism heavily involves bringing people "to conviction" under the law, and they use the 10 Commandments to do this. But this is not the NT model for evangelism. Never was, never will be, and never could be.

The reason the 1888 message was rejected "corporately" (by the whole body both officially and "at large") by the SDA church was because those who commandeered the helm already staked their vested interest in being able to mount an ever-increasing "don't" list to control other people. That's how profitable business was "done" in the Dickensian era, and Adventism is nothing if not a very profitable business. It's almost on par with Scientology in that respect, but I give the SDAs capitalist kudos for figuring out how to monetize (a most worldly endeavor, monetization) the continual refrain to love not the world and be not like the world, while creating a plethora of institutions run on the same tiresome principles of authoritarianism and popularity contests the rest of the world ran theirs upon -- at least until the early part of this millenium. Thankfully the world is growing up a little in this respect, even if its emulators lag far, far behind ... of course I live on the "left coast" where people tend to be less uptight and draconian to begin with, but we're not without our red pimples and oozing red pustules in this otherwise blue sea of sanity, if you catch my drift. The main difference being, out here they don't dominate and run things. We don't let them. You don't hand the asylum over to the inmates or the classroom over to the squalling brats -- enough said.

I've digressed, sorry. What I wanted to say was that the "1888 message" was the one chance the SDA church had to truly become "the head and not the tail" and as an .org, they blew it. What this means is that today there are believers whose understanding of soteriology and eschatology -- salvation, God, the ultimate end to things, etc. -- far surpasses anything the General Conference ever hammered out or voted upon. It far surpasses anything the scholars write about in sectarian theological journals. It far surpasses anything and everything that the descendents of a group of gospel-rejecting fools can produce today -- and sorry, that's what the mainstream church is, by and large, the 5th and 6th generation of descendents from those who had a shot at ditching addictive us-versus-them indoctrination and pharisaic legalism in favor of freedom, joy, light and genuine LOVE, but didn't -- and instead took a dark turn down a dead-end path that would only ensure the premature demise of all validity and viability to this monolithic institution and its self-flattering delusions.

Today that ship has sailed. If you want on board you are going to have to "come out of her, my people" about THIS church just like this church once sounded that clarion call 160+ years ago about other dead-end indoctrination systems. The SDAs are not the darlings of the apocalypse anymore. The sooner you all realize this, the sooner you can move on to where God is surely calling you, because this joint's a tomb, yo.

 

[rainbowinthesky]

Wow hownow, that was a mouthful! I agree with just about everything you said except that right now is not the time to call people out of the "organized work" but rather for the 1888 message to be proclaimed one more time before probation for the church closes which will precede the loud cry to the world. Other than that, you are right on as far as your assessment of the condition of the church is. Thanks for sharing.

P.S. You did not comment on the message I shared--1888 message--from the SoP.

 

[hownow]

I thought that's what I was commenting upon. Or talking about, anyway.

The 1888 Message is neither new nor unique to the SDA church. As I understand it, it is kind of the SDA version of Paul's epistle to the Galatians, written to people operating under similar misconceptions to try to bring them back to the actual GOOD NEWS. And the whole of its substance goes far beyond just what Jones & Waggoner brought out in the open, but I also think the milieu in which they operated at that time -- that of the SDA church -- would not have been ready for where it was all going. And the sad thing is, having rejected what they WERE ready for and desperately needed, they won't be going further or beyond any time soon.

 

[hownow]

I have friends who have suddenly come to think returning to observation of OT Jewish feast days, or departing from the concept of God as a Trinity, is somehow supposedly some "critical key" to "getting it all right". I think this is what is called "majoring in the minors." Those issues were long ago settled by Paul. The first issue is handled in Romans 14:5-6 -- " One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God." The second issue, while I don't know of any specific clear-cut bible verse to toss at it, basically comes under the category of the mystery of who and what God is, something none of us could ever fully comprehend in this lifetime, so it is futile and a complete distraction to more important matters to either enter debate over it or imagine the adoption of one perspective over another when it comes to mysteries none of us can penetrate, to somehow be the vital key to understanding that everyone needs.

That's digressing a little off topic so let's bring it home. The 1888 Message contains a valid "vital key", universal in nature and scope, yet uniquely tailored to the specific understanding and experience of SDAs. It is a key that unlocks doors that lead to further vital keys, which eventually, if the "trail" is followed, unlocks things in scripture that have been hidden in plain sight for centuries -- glorious, wonderful, amazing treasures most could never dream are in there because they've never searched them out and have to some degree been discouraged from trying.

I'd like to see more people with the desire to finally quit wandering nowhere in circles stepping out to see just what lies ahead on the path to the promised land. But that requires stepping out of theological comfort zones and risking the typical reactionary, fear-driven, ostracizing community response to such bold moves.

 

[Dunbar]

Wow, Hownow you go girl! I want to clone about a hundred of you. I could listen to your posts all day and every day. Are you married? Just kidding.

But seriously, I love the 1888 message more than life. It saved me from legalism hell. I no longer worship EGW, the ten commandments or vegetables in that order.

SDA's are good people but they do not know the gospel. I wish they would learn because time is running out. Faith and Love is the message that will go to all the world. This is what a real commandment keeper is. If you don't believe me just read John. He said the same thing.

 

[Edouard]

Words of Christ: "..If you love me, you will obey me..."
Even Christ broke the Sabbath and the man made rules of the day as well.