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The question is asked What it is that makes infidels? First of all, we shall define the word. "Infidel",--"a person who has no religious faith." Standard Dictionary. If this is true, then one who has a religion, whatever kind it may be, is not an infidel. It is an accepted fact that those who are in some dark corner of the earth, away from civilization, or Christianity, are not irreligious people. That is, as a rule they believe in some kind of supreme being, or supernatural power. This being so, we must admit that heathendom does not contribute to this great degeneracy so rapidly sweeping through the nations. Infidelity has its beginning in civilized lands. An attempt shall be made here to designate who is directly responsible for this widespread evil, which, like cancer is eating away the morals of the nations.
The following argument was put forth to an audience in a certain metropolitan city recently by a man who was attired in Indian costume, and who claimed to be a half-breed Indian. This man said, "This earth of ours rotates on its axis once in every twenty-four hours. During the day we stand on top of the earth with the sun over head, but at night we stand underneath the earth, hanging by our feet with moon and stars below us in space. If you meet a Christian at midday," continued the Indian, "and ask him where he is going, he will tell you he is going to heaven. If you ask him, Where is heaven? he points up toward the sun, and says, 'There is heaven.' But you meet him twelve hours later, at midnight, while he is under the earth, and ask him then where heaven is. This time he points up toward the stars, thinking he is pointing in the same direction as he did at midday, and says, 'There is heaven'."
Then he added, "Christians do not know where heaven is, neither do they know which way they are going. No matter at what time of day or night it is, they always point straight up. Furthermore, astronomers have been photographing suns and planets for many years. Some of these suns are so far out in space it would take millions of light years to get there, but they have not yet photographed heaven [where the throne of God is], so if there is any heaven, it must be so far away that if these Christians would travel as fast as light (186,000 miles a second), it would take them millions upon millions of years to get there. This would be impossible for the human span of life is limited to only a few years."
What this Indian has said is true, as far as his objection is concerned, and of the impossibility for one to get to heaven, that is, humanly speaking. It would take a fairly good Bible student to give a satisfactory answer to this kind of infidel but the thought intended here, is that the Christian's contact with the Indian made him (the Indian) an infidel instead of a Christian. The evil did not stop there, for in turn, this Indian is now making infidels of hundreds and thousands of people by the use of the so-called light he has received of a so-called Christian. The experience of this Indian teaches that anyone professing the name of Christ, his course of action and conversation when in contact with the world, has a decided influence for the better or worse, and in turn, as the waves of the sea, one wave carries another, and another still another. "Throw a pebble into the lake, and a wave is formed, and another, and another, and as they are increased the circle widens until it reaches the shore. So with our influence; beyond our knowledge or control it tells upon others in blessing or in cursing." C.O.L., pages, 343, 344.
Evidently there are two classes of Christians. One class makes disciples for Christ, while the other class contribute infidels against Christ. We may well ask ourselves, Which class do I belong to? 2 Cor. 13:5, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" Quoting 2 Tim. 2:15, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." This commandment is as good as any Bible commandment. At least it ought to be as good as the fifth commandment of the decalogue. "Honor thy father and thy mother: That thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Ex. 20:12.
If a father commands his son to do a certain thing and that son refuses to obey, he has dishonored his earthly father, and is become a transgressor of the fifth commandment. But if one is asked to do a certain thing by his heavenly Father and should refuse to respond to the call, such a person has dishonored his heavenly Father, and is become a transgressor of the first commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." In fact, he is breaking the first four commandments which are honor to God, while the last six are love for man. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." Jam. 2:10.
Quoting the first part of 1 Pet. 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts." The meaning is that God alone should dwell in the heart and nothing else should interfere. It is possible for one to obey the commandment in 2 Tim. 2:15, as previously quoted, but without a sanctification of his heart to the Lord God, if he would spend a life time in studying, it would be in vain as far as spiritual things are concerned, of which we speak. On the other hand, if one would obey these two commandments (1 Pet. 3:15 and 2 Tim. 2:15), then he must be able to fulfill the last part of the verse, "and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." 1 Pet. 3:15. The kind of answer we give to every man will prove whether we keep God's commandments or not. If our answer is like the above-mentioned Christian, then we too know not where heaven is, neither do we know where we are going. Our influence would be such as to make infidels against Christ instead of disciples for Christ. The Christian who has sanctified the Lord God in his heart can give a better answer to the above-stated Indian than a so-called Christian.
Quoting Isa. 14:13, "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north." Lucifer wanted to ascend to the sides of the north because that is where God's throne is, and where the throne of God is, there heaven is also. Had this Christian pointed toward the north at midday the same as the compass, and in the same direction at midnight, or at any time, the extreme ends of all lines would meet at the same point. This answer would have been proper and instructive as well. The whip against heaven as well as the confusion would have been avoided, and the amount of good derived from a wise answer could not be estimated. An answer to this Indian, and the directions to heaven are given at the close of this chapter.
Lucifer said he will ascend to the sides of the north. He could have ascended had he obeyed the commandment of the Lord. But no, Lucifer thought he knew better than his God, and wished to make an improvement in heaven. Honest in his deception, he attempted the impossible task. In Isa. 14:15, we read: "Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the side of the pit." The result was instead of ascending to the sides of the north where he desired to go, he descended down in the sides of the pit (in the opposite direction). Just so, many Christians now, like Lucifer, think they are going to ascend up in the sides of the north (Heaven) but in their own way, wishing to improve on the wisdom of the Living God. They are more interested to go to heaven than they are to study and obey the explicit instruction given them in the Word of God. Though honest in their misconception of the heavenly direction, they will find themselves down in the sides of the pit (hell). The disappointment to such a one would be greater than we can realize. Experience only can ten the sorrow and grief at such a time. This class of Christians are not only a detriment to themselves, but are injurious to others, and are the ones of whom our Lord said, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do." John 8:44.
Quoting 2 Cor. 13:5, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" We, as Seventh-day Adventists, would do no wrong to heaven nor injustice to ourselves if we would take an account of our Christian experience so that we may be able to tell where we are headed for. We, as a people, have been honored by heaven with a special message for the world in this generation. We call this message the "Third Angel's Message" which is a combination of the first, second, and third angel's messages of Rev. 14:6-12. The substance of the message we bear may be classified into five subjects: (1) the time of the end; (2) the judgment (day of atonement, since 1844); (3) the second coming of Christ in this generation; (4) the restoration of the true Sabbath; (5) calling God's people out from Babylon (idolatry) which we define to be Sunday, Easter, and Christmas keeping, etc. Because they have refused to acknowledge and renounce the practice of these so-called Christian institutions or festivals is the chief cause of the downfall of Babylon. The call is to depart from these pagan practices to the true worship of Jehovah.
We teach tithing for the support of the gospel. We claim we are the people who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus, the latter being the gift of the Spirit of Prophecy; also the doctrines of health reform, dress reform, etc. The chief and only purpose of these doctrines being to prepare a peculiar people to God's own glory and honor; a people to meet the Lord without tasting death, or, to rise in the special resurrection of Daniel 12. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal Priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." 1 Pet. 2:9.
This message is to penetrate into the uttermost parts of the earth, for by it shall the world be judged. Rejectors being condemned to death, it is a far more fearful message than we can even realize. This is the substance and the object of the message we bear to every kindred, tongue, and people, and its presentation before the public in all its wonders has a great effect. The people listen with intense interest and give their undivided attention, eager to grasp every thought expressed. Becoming interested in the truth, they begin to search deeper in the Word. They supply themselves with the books of the Spirit of Prophecy, and with great interest commence to search through the sacred pages.
Believing as they have been taught that this is the day of judgment, they expect to see God's people rid themselves from all sin by obedience to His divine Word, and especially to the instructions given to the church by His messenger in this generation. As they search through the writings by the Spirit of Prophecy, they naturally come to the following passages: Counsels on Health, page 277: "Our ideas of building and furnishing our institutions are to be molded and fashioned by a true, practical knowledge of what it means to walk humbly with God. Never should it be thought necessary to give an appearance of wealth. Never should appearance be depended on as a means of success. This is a delusion. The desire to make an appearance that is not in every way appropriate to the work that God has given us to do, an appearance that could be kept up only by expending a large sum of money, is a merciless tyrant. It is like a canker that is ever eating into the vitals.
"Men of common sense appreciate comfort above elegance and display. It is a mistake to suppose that by keeping up an appearance, more patients, and therefore more means, would be gained. But even if this course would bring an increase of patronage, we would not consent to have our sanitariums furnished according to the luxurious ideas of the age."
Volume 5, page 188, speaking of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: "They lived only for God's glory, and declared plainly that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth seeking a better country, that is, an heavenly. Their conduct proclaimed their faith....But how are the professed people of God today maintaining the honor of his name? How could the world infer that they are a peculiar people? What evidence do they give of citizenship in Heaven?...As your course was presented before me I was pointed to the dwellings recently erected by our people in that city. These buildings are so many monuments of your unbelief of the doctrines which you profess to hold. They are preaching sermons more effective than any delivered from the pulpit. I saw worldlings point to them with jesting and ridicule, as a denial of our faith. They proclaim that which the owners have been saying in their hearts,--'My Lord delayeth his coming'."
Volume 7, pages 59, 91, 92: "The Lord has instructed me to warn those who in the future establish sanitariums in new places, to begin their work in humility, consecrating their abilities to His service. The buildings erected are not to be large or expensive. Small local sanitariums are to be established in connection with our training-schools"...."We must also remember that our work is to correspond with our faith. We believe that the Lord is soon to come, and should not our faith be represented in the buildings we erect? Shall we put a large outlay of money into a building that will soon be consumed in the great conflagration? Our money means souls, and it is to be used to bring a knowledge of the truth to those who, because of sin, are under the condemnation of God."
Volume 9, page 71: "God designs that we shall learn lessons from the failures of the past. It is not pleasing to Him to have debts rest upon His institutions. We have reached the time when we must give character to the work by refusing to erect large and costly buildings. We are not to copy the mistakes of the past, and become more and more involved in debt."
It is the privilege of the reader to inquire from God's people why the instructions given by one whom we believe to be the prophet of God for the present time have not been carried out. Now we are confronted face to face with our text, "And be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." 1 Pet. 3:15. What answer can we give that would demonstrate meekness and fear within the hearts of God's people? Would our answer give a character to God's work and His people? Would that answer establish the confidence of the inquisitor in the message and the people that bear this great responsibility? What shall we say? Whether by word or by silence, that answer can only be, "Yes, that is what the prophet says, but it is not what we do." Would such an answer give one the impression that we believe this is the day of atonement, and that every man must confess his sin? Would that person now accept the truth and be a Christian? Or would he, with the previously-mentioned Indian become an infidel? Most likely the latter would be accepted, and the truth rejected. But this is not where the evil ends.
Another comes with the following question: "You preach that Christmas is not the true birthday of Christ; that it is the birthday of an imposter, a day of pagan institution, and idolatrous worship. You have told us that Christians must not take part in it, and for this reason are supposed to come out from fallen Babylon. Why then do you do the same as those who are in Babylon? You give gifts and receive gifts, you send an What answer shall we give to this second inquisitor that would establish his faith in what we believe?
Whether we answer the question or not, our works have declared, "Yes, that is what we preach, but that is not what we practice." Is not this hypocrisy of the highest form? Has our answer now compelled this poor soul to accept or to reject the truth? Most likely he would reject the truth and join the ranks of infidelity now if never before. What is true of Christmas, the same is true of Easter, etc., but the current does not stop here.
The third person in line comes with the following passages: Volume 6, pages 215, 216, "Our conferences look to the schools for educated and well-trained laborers, and they should give the schools a most hearty and intelligent support. Light has been plainly given that those who minister in our schools, teaching the word of God explaining the Scriptures, educating the students in the things of God, should be supported by the tithe money....The same principles which, if followed, will bring success and blessing to our training-schools and colleges, should govern our plans and work for the church schools." This prophet whom you say is a prophet of God says thus and so. Why then do you not pay our school teachers by the tithe as God has commanded? Why do you desecrate the Sabbath by raising the teacher's salary in the hour of worship? If this is a prophet of God, why have you lightly esteemed the instructions given? Do you not fear God? Now what can be said to this man? We may not say anything. But that will not hide the evil for our works have revealed the following secret, "Yes, that is what God has said by His prophet, but that is not what we do."
How much tithe do you think this man would pay after he knows that we have misused it? Would such practices establish his confidence in the message and in the people? Would he now sacrifice a day in a week and one-tenth of his income and perhaps his position? His soul is at stake, and of whom shall it be required? Fearful, is it not?
The fourth one arrives with Volume 1, pages 471, 472: "A great mistake has been made by some who profess present truth, by introducing merchandise in the course of a series of meetings, and by their traffic diverting minds from the object of the meetings. If Christ were now upon earth, he would drive out these peddlers and traffickers, whether they be ministers or people, with a scourge of small cords, as when he entered the temple anciently....'And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves'." These traffickers might have pleaded as an excuse that the articles they held for sale were for sacrificial offerings. But their object was to get gain, to obtain means, to accumulate....Ministers have stood in the desk and preached a most solemn discourse, and then by introducing merchandise, and acting the part of a salesman, even in the house of God, they have diverted the minds of their hearers from the impressions received, and destroyed the fruit of their labor....Their time and strength should be held in reserve, that their efforts may be thorough in a series of meetings. Their time and strength should not be drawn upon to sell our books when they can be properly brought before the public by those who have not the burden of preaching the word."
This newly-interested person asks the question, "Why do you sell your publications in the church? Why do you desecrate the Sabbath with your merchandise? Is not the morning hour of the Sabbath sacred and for worship only? You have told me this was the prophet of God for this generation. Why have you disregarded the warning? Is not this book written by that prophet in whom you claim to believe?" What shall we tell this man? Is there anything we can say that would excuse us from the guilt? Whether we answer by word, or by silence, our works have manifested the following act, "Yes, that is what the prophet of God has said, but that is not what we do." We have sung our song, but what about the soul of this man?
The next person comes with Volume 8, pages 141, 142: "Those who are steadfast to the truth should not be set aside in favor of worldlings. Prices should not be set so high to meet current expenses that the poor will, to a large extent, be excluded from the benefits of the Sanitarium."
"This book which is claimed to be the inspired word of God, and which is said to contain all the instructions for the church at this present time says the denominational institutions must not set their prices so high as to meet current (running) expenses. The latest report according to the General Conference Bulletin in 1930 is: The denomination has received a net income of some $116,000,000 in four years from these institutions. If this prophet of God has said, "You are not to set your prices so high as to meet your current expense," how then did you make all these millions of dollars in just four short years? Why have you not followed the instructions? Does not your God mean what He says?"
What shall our answer be this time? Shall we say it is better to sacrifice than to obey? Is this word is respected or not? Will we hear the "well done" for losing the sheep and bringing the dollars? Is He after the gold more than the sheep? What shall we say? Shall we say our institutions are facing sunshine and our judgment better than God's? We may not say this by words, but our works have revealed that which is in our hearts. But what about this poor soul? Will he cast his lot with the people of God, or with the rank of infidelity? Oh! who shall pay the price of his blood?
The line has not yet reached its end, for another interested one comes with a large number of references, both from the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, wishing to inquire in regard to the instructions for the church respecting health reform. These books, which it is claimed are written for the people of God for this last generation teach a strict health reform. This prophet has charged the church to establish health institutions everywhere, consisting of the manufacturing of health foods stores, health cafeterias, schools and teachers for the art of cooking; also that the members of the church must refrain from foods which are considered by health authorities to be unhealthful.
Health reform is to be agitated everywhere, and it seems this prophet is right in the matter. The prophet also claims that those who disregard health principles can not enter in through the pearly gates of the Holy City, according to the following statement from Volume 5, page 197: "Rather than sit at a table where wholesome food is provided, he will patronize restaurants, because he can there indulge appetite without restraint....That man is worshipping at the shrine of perverted appetite. He is an idolater. The powers which, sanctified and ennobled, might be employed to honor God, are weakened and rendered of little service. An irritable temper, a confused brain, and unstrung nerves are among the results of his disregard of nature's laws. He is inefficient, unreliable....Thus the God of Israel is dishonored, while Satan's power is revered and exalted."
Volume 2, page 69: "A wrong course of eating or drinking destroys health, and with it the sweetness of life....Thousands have indulged their perverted appetites, have eaten a good meal, as they called it, and as the result, have brought on a fever, or some other acute disease, and certain death. That was enjoyment purchased at immense cost. Yet many have done this, and these self-murderers have been eulogized by their friends and the minister, and carried directly to Heaven at their death. What a thought! Gluttons in Heaven! No, no; such will never enter the pearly gates of the golden city of God."
"If these things are written by the prophet of God, as claimed, why have you so lightly esteemed the counsel of the Lord? Why do most of your people eat flesh foods? The prophet writes that God's people must leave flesh food alone. If these things are so, then how do you expect to gain entrance through the pearly gates? Does not your God mean what He says?" Have not our deeds already given the following answer to this earnest soul? "Yes, that is what the prophet says, but that is not what we do." One may say, It is the duty of the ministry to instruct the people in the church, and what I do not know I can not be responsible for. For the benefit of such a one we quote the following scripture: "So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand." Ezekiel 33:7, 8.
The seventh one, next in line with a great number of references both from the Bible and the Testimonies, wishes to inquire about certain things which are a question in his mind. "Do not these references plainly teach that God's people can not and must not follow the fashions of the world, and that ornaments be discarded by the members of the church? Volume 1, page 270: "The prophecy of Isaiah 3, was presented before me, as applying to these last days; and the reproofs are given to the daughters of Zion who have thought only of appearance and display. Read verse 25: 'Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.' I was shown that this scripture will be strictly fulfilled. Young men and women professing to be Christians yet having no Christian experience, and having borne no burdens and felt no individual responsibility, are to be proved. They will be brought low in the dust, and will long for an experience in the things of God, which they have failed to obtain."
Isa. 3:16-24, "Moreover the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover their secret parts. In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, the chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, the bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, the rings, and nose jewels, the changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, the glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty."
"Why, then, are the members of your denomination wearing these things, and are permitted to take an active part in the church even to the extent of serving in office, also being members of your church council? The instructions by your prophet are, that church members in dressing their children should have the clothing evenly distributed, covering all necessary parts of the body." This prophet claims that these instructions must be closely followed to safeguard the health and maturity of your children. You claim this is a prophet of God and these volumes contain the instructions for the church for this generation. Why have you slighted the advice of your prophet? Do you not believe in these writings, or do you think these instructions are not good? If you do not care for the welfare of your children, do you not fear your God?"
Numerous questions have been asked, but let us answer them by the following: When your God appears with vengeance upon the wicked, and if he should question you with all the foregoing questions, what would you answer Him? Matt. 22:12-14 will here be quoted: "And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen."
Still another wishes to find the truth and earnestly presents his question this time from Testimonies to Ministers, page 475: "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.' Somebody is to come in the spirit and power of Elijah, and when he appears, men may say: 'You are too earnest, you do not interpret the Scriptures in the proper way. Let me tell you how to each your message'." "This prophet whom you say is a prophet of God claims that another prophet, or a message, is to come to the church, but you say that you have all the truth and that you need no more truth or prophets. Why have you not educated your people to expect a message before the end? Do you not fear that the result now may be the same as in the time of Christ with the Jews?" This question will be answered by the following scripture. We quote Christ, speaking to the Jews, "Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers." Matt. 23:31, 32.
After all these questions are asked without receiving proper answers, have we complied with the text, "and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear"? We must not be surprised if the inquisitor expresses his personal opinion in the following manner: "You people teach one thing but do another. You have departed from the fundamentals of your doctrine. Your doctrines as they are written in your books are beautiful and in harmony with the law and the testimony, but your personal testimony and practice is contrary to anything that is printed in your books." Doubtless these are some of the reasons why out of 104,000 baptized in the last four years, fifty-two some thousands left the truth, and only forty-eight some thousands remained in the church. Note that a larger number of them went out than those who stayed in. These are some of the causes which are apt to make infidels.
If the Testimonies for the church have any connection with the Spirit of God, and if these things written in this article are true, then we must believe God has made the thing known to His servant the prophet, (the founder of this denomination). The following vision is quoted from Testimonies to Ministers, page 469: "As the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, I seemed to be present in one of your councils. One of your number rose, his manner was very decided and earnest as he held up a paper before you. I could read plainly the heading of the paper; it was the American Sentinel. Criticisms were then passed upon the paper and the character of the articles therein published. Those in council pointed to certain passages, declaring that this must be cut out, and that must be changed. Strong words were uttered in criticism of the methods of the paper, and a strong un-Christlike spirit prevailed. Voices were decided and defiant. My guide gave me words of warning and reproof to speak to those who took part in this proceeding, who were not slow to utter their accusations and condemnation. In substance this was the reproof given: The Lord has not presided at this council, and there is a spirit of strife among the counselors. The minds and hearts of these men are not under the controlling influence of the Spirit of God."
The American Sentinel was one of the denominational papers in the early days of the movement. The changes that were suggested to be made does not necessarily mean that the things contained in that particular paper were to be changed or cut out. We must remember that it is only a vision, and it can mean any denominational paper that contains God's truth. We read at the top of this same page from which this vision is quoted: "Do not think that you will be found as vessels unto honor in the time of the latter rain, to receive the glory of God, if you are lifting up your souls unto vanity, speaking perverse things, in secret cherishing roots of bitterness." From this it is clear that the vision is touching the time just before the latter rain.
The prophecy in this vision had met its fulfillment, and who would dare doubt the authenticity of the Spirit of God? Who would dare support an open violation of sacred things against his own hurt? God has set His hand to redeem His people. Pharaoh and his host cannot prevail against the all-powerful God. "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea....And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt." Isa. 11:11, 15, 16.
God will yet have a clean people and a pure church, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it. "Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: For henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean." Isa. 52:1. "The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: For they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid." Zeph. 3:13.
If an earthly father would ask his son to do a certain thing, and that son would refuse to do that certain thing, he has transgressed the fifth commandment, and that son, through his disobedience to the request, has dishonored his father. "Honour thy father and thy mother: That thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Ex. 20:12. But if our Heavenly Father has asked us to do a certain thing, and we refuse to obey, we have dishonored Him, and have become transgressors of the first commandment. In fact, we would be breaking the first four commandments, which are in honor to God. The obedient to these precepts are those who love God and keep His commandments. "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Ex. 20:3. "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Lu. 6:46. "Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matt. 7:21.
In the General Conference Bulletin No. 2, of 1930, the statement is made that we are in an excellent condition. The increase in members and finances is being given as the reason in support of the statement. However, he who would believe the claim is saying in his heart the following quotations are false. Volume 3, pages 252-257, 260: "The message to the church of the Laodiceans is a startling denunciation, and is applicable to the people of God at the present time....The people of God are represented in the message to the Laodiceans as in a position of carnal security. They are at ease, believing themselves to be in an exalted condition of spiritual attainments. 'Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.'
"What greater deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right, when they are all wrong! The message of the True Witness finds the people of God in a sad deception, yet honest in that deception. They know not that their condition is deplorable in the sight of God. While those addressed are flattering themselves that they are in an exalted spiritual condition, the message of the True Witness breaks their security by the startling denunciation of their true condition of spiritual blindness, poverty, and wretchedness. The testimony, so cutting and sever, cannot be a mistake, for it is the True Witness who speaks, and his testimony must be correct.
"It is difficult for those who feel secure in their attainments, and who believe themselves to be rich in spiritual knowledge, to receive the message which declares that they are deceived and in need of every spiritual grace. The unsanctified heart is 'deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.' I was shown that many are flattering themselves that they are good Christians who have not a ray of light from Jesus. They have not a living experience for themselves in the divine life. They need a deep and thorough work of self-abasement before God, before they will feel their true need of earnest, persevering effort to secure the precious graces of the Spirit....They think the testimony of the Spirit of God in reproof is uncalled for, or that it does not mean them. Such are in the greatest need of the grace of God and spiritual discernment, that they may discover their deficiency in spiritual knowledge....But the message of the True Witness reveals the fact that a terrible deception is upon our people, which makes it necessary to come to them with warnings, to break their spiritual slumber, and arouse them to decided action....Unbelief is closing their eyes, so that they are ignorant of their true condition. The True Witness thus describes their blindness: 'And knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.'
"Faith in the soon coming of Christ is waning. 'My Lord delayeth his coming' is not only said in the heart, but expressed in words, and most decidedly in works. Stupidity in this watching time is sealing the senses of God's people as to the signs of the times. The terrible iniquity which abounds calls for the greatest diligence and for the living testimony, to keep sin out of the church....Those who despise the warning will be left in blindness to become self-deceived. But those who heed it, and zealously go about the work of separating their sins from them in order to have the needed graces, will be opening the door of their hearts that the dear Saviour may come in and dwell with them. This class you will ever find in perfect harmony with the testimony of the Spirit of God. Ministers who are Preaching Present truth should not neglect the solemn message to the Laodiceans....The True Witness declares that when you suppose you are really in a good condition of prosperity, you are in need of everything.
"The people of God must see their wrongs, and arouse to zealous repentance, and a putting away of those sins which have brought them into such a deplorable condition of poverty, blindness, wretchedness, and fearful deception."
The fact that our brethren think that we are in an excellent condition proves that Inspiration tells the truth. We think we are right while we are all wrong. Quoting Volume 3, pages 270, 271: "Those who work in the fear of God to rid the church of hindrances, and to correct grievous wrongs, that the people of God may see the necessity of abhorring sin, and may prosper in purity, and that the name of God may be glorified, will ever meet with resisting influences from the unconsecrated. Zephaniah thus describes the true state of this class, and the terrible judgments that will come upon them." "This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: How is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! Every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand." Zeph. 2:15.
"Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! She obeyed not the voice, she received not correction; she trusted not in the Lord; she drew not near to her God. Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow. Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: Her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. The just Lord is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame." Zeph. 3:1-5.
At the General Conference of 1930, held in San Francisco, Calif., the following statistics are reported with great enthusiasm and boasting over the excellency of the great denomination. The entire membership throughout the world four years ago was 250,988. Latest reports available in 1930, at the San Francisco Conference session says the membership has increased to 299,555. The increase in the four year period since the last General Conference held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is 48,567. Review and Herald, June 1, 1930, pages 39-41. The brethren think this is a tremendous increase in membership, and therefore, we are in an excellent condition, is the cry.
The story of a certain farmer's little girl has been told how she sold a few pounds of cherries to a stranger for a few pennies. She thought it would be wise to put her golden bracelet into the bag of cherries so that it would give her a better weight, and receive more money thereby. The child was overwhelmed with her supposed wise transaction, ran into the house, and happily exclaimed to her mother that she had received more money than the regular amount for her cherries by throwing the golden bracelet in with the cherries. On the child's part, it was a great increase, and a wise judgment, but to the mother's knowledge of the costly jewel being practically given away was a great disappointment.
The denomination's boasting of a so-called tremendous growth in members is as true as the supposed great increase in price of the cherries sold by the little girl. Let us take an account of the price we have paid for the little gain in members. We shall attempt to prove that the children born to this denomination in the past four years (were they saved to the church), the increase in members of a little over 48,000 would have been more than double, even though there had not been one added from outside of the church. If this is true, then more than one-half of the children born to the denomination are lost in the world, even if the entire gain of new members were the offsprings of the church. But if this increase is not entirely from within the church, then most all of the denomination's children are lost, and that would mean we have exchanged our jewels (children) for a few converts from the heathen lands, as the little girl exchanged her golden bracelet for the weight of the cherries.
How terrible the thought to lose your own children to the number of more than 97,000, and an expenditure of nearly $165,000,000, all in four years' time to bring but few children from the world. If rightly realized the grief is heavier than one can bear. Think of such a tremendous loss of life, sacrifice, and labor inside of four years. But the worst part is that we are boasting instead of weeping, and therefore there is but little hope to remedy the great wound. Is it not true that Laodiceans are blind and asleep while they think they are rich and increased with good? Now we shall bring the evidence that the charge made here is true.
The increase in membership in the last four years is just a little over 19%. This would mean that a church of 200 members should yield a little less than ten children per year, or about 39 every four years. This estimation is very low, from a church that is made up mostly of women as the Seventh-day Adventist church is. For an example, we shall consider Exposition Park church in Los Angeles, Cal. The present membership of this particular church is approximately 230. About 30 of these members are isolated and hardly ever attend church services on the Sabbath, so we shall consider only the 200 members who attend Sabbath services.
The denominational increase in members in the last four years being a little over 19%, therefore a church of the size stated above should yield about 39 children in four years or have about 39 children between two and six years of age in order to meet the increase we have made. The kindergarten in the Sabbath School of the said church takes the children from two to seven years of age. The lapse of time is five years instead of four.
The figures to meet the gain in members are less than ten per year of the fixed age, therefore in the span of five years the number of children of that age would not exceed 49 in the kindergarten of the Sabbath School if every child of that age attended the said department of this institution. In this particular church, only about one-half of the church membership attend the Sabbath School, but the other half may be present only for the preaching service, and where the parents are absent, the children are also. Therefore there must be less than half of the children from two to seven years of age present in the kindergarten department of the Sabbath School. The one-half of the children of kindergarten age should number less than twenty-five to meet the increased percentage of members in the four years. The number of children in the said institution attending the kindergarten department of the Sabbath School are about 35. The number required to meet the claim is less than 25; therefore we have 10 above the number estimated. These figures prove the percentage of children born each four years to this denomination to be not less than 35% of the membership. Therefore, if all the denominational children born each four years were saved to the church, without any evangelical effort for outside converts, the increase in the past four years would have been 35% instead of 19%. But the fact is, that the percentage of childbirths in the United States is much smaller than that in foreign lands. Where there is one child in an American home, there are three of more in a home of some foreign country, therefore the children born to this denomination each four years is much more than twice the total increase in members for the same period of time.
Where we have gained 48,567 new members, the children born to this denomination should have exceeded far above 97,000, and that above this figure would have taken care of the ones claimed by death, and some to spare. (It has been estimated those claimed by death in the same four years to be only about 3500.) Thus we have the proof that the "Lambs" which God has given to this people to raise for Him are lost in the world (devoured by the enemy), and no one cares. There is neither sorrow nor sadness in the camp of Israel, but instead, there is feasting and gladness and boasting with blindness.
"Where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock? What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them to be captains, and as chief over thee: Shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?" Jer. 13:20, 21. "The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth." Isa. 38:19. "That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children." Ps. 78:6. "They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: So that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble." 1 Sam. 2:5. May God help His people in this great day of deception where the shrewd enemy is trying to deceive even the very elect.
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim. 2:15. "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: And be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." 1 Pet. 3:15. The commandment in the Bible is that a Christian must study, and that he also must give an answer to every man. This Indian being one of the "every man," according to the Scriptures there must be a way, and it is the duty of a Christian to give him an answer with meekness and fear.
"For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north." Isa. 14:13. Lucifer wished to ascend in the sides of the north because God's throne is there. Said the Psalmist, "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King." Ps. 48:2.
God's throne is in the north. One may point to the north at any time from any part of the earth, and the extreme end of each line would meet at the same point. Had the so-called Christian pointed to the north, the answer would have been proper and in harmony with the Bible; thus both the confusion and the whip would have been avoided. Pointing to the north does not mean that heaven is somewhere in the north corner of the celestial expanse of stellar bodies, for we understand that God's throne is in the center of the universe.
The axis of the earth tilts in a slanting direction in relation to its orbit. If we point in another direction than north or south at any time it would be either east or west. In the daytime, pointing in any direction (except with the axis of the earth) we are pointing to the east (the sun), and at night to the west, with no specific direction into space. Pointing to the sun constitutes east; the opposite direction to the sun is west dealing with our solar system only, but the direction of north deals with the center of the universe.
There is no such thing as up and down in space. The only thing that would constitute up is the center of attraction (God's throne): Down (or south) is in the opposite direction from God's throne, (the great celestial expanse). The center of attraction is surrounded by island universes. The axis in each island universe (or suns, planets, and worlds) all point to one center of attraction (God's throne). This great and most supreme sovereign center stands as the highest peak on a great mountain around which all creation revolves, each suspended by an unseen power (chain) attached to its north axis similar to the pendulum hanging from a great clock.
The fastest speed on earth known to modern science at this present time is light which travels at the rate of 186,284 miles a second. If one was to take a flight on the wings of light to the great nebula Orion, it would take him 600 years to reach that far-distant wonder in the heavens which has drawn an earnest attention of modern science. Quoting from Early Writings, page 41, we read: "The atmosphere parted and rolled back; then we could look up through the open space in Orion, whence came the voice of God. The holy city will come down through that open space." If the holy city is to come through that space we may well suppose that that glorious open space in Orion is the gateway to that long-continued highway to heaven (God's throne). But think of the great distance to this most wonderful gateway. If it would take 600 light years to reach the entrance to that far-distant highway, then we ask ourselves, How many light years would it take to reach the other end of that heavenly highway to the city of the great King in the sides of the north?
We mortals can not give a direct answer to this great question only to say the distance from earth to the center of the universe (God's throne) is so vast that we finite beings only stand awestruck. We are amazed with the difficulty to compute mileage, or even light years. But if the distance is so vastly beyond human comprehension, then we, like the previously-stated Indian, ask the question, How would Christians ever get to heaven? Suppose that great wonder (train) which takes the redeemed would move at the tremendous speed of light, traveling 186,000 miles a second, it would take a good part of eternity to reach the city of the Great King (heaven).
Here we shall see what we consider a terrific speed. Heaven esteems it very dilatory. For an example, we shall consider Jesus after the resurrection. It was Mary who met Him first. As she reached for her Lord, Jesus said to her, "Mary, touch Me not; for I have not yet ascended to My Father." John 20:17. Eight days later Jesus again appeared to His disciples. "Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, ...and thrust it into My side; and be not faithless, but believe." John 20:27. If Jesus would not let Mary touch Him because He had not yet been to His Father after He had risen, we may not suppose He would let Thomas thrust His finger in His side except He had been to heaven by His Father. Jesus, in a week or less, made a round trip from earth to heaven.
Suppose this Indian wished to go to heaven, and chose to ride on the wings of light. Starting the same day Christ arose from the tomb, sweeping through space at the rate of 186,000 miles a second, he would still be on the way. More than that, the nebula,--which we are a part of is 300,000 light years in diameter. Therefore, he would still be inside the city limits of our own nebula. A certain writer, speaking of the center of the universe (God's throne), has described the distance in the following words: "But the solution of the mystery of the distance to the center of centers--to that remote point in space which is the center of gravity for all the tens of thousands of galaxies--will have to await the completion of our nebular survey which will take from ten to fifteen years or more; and it may never be solved."
The speed of light is altogether too slow
a velocity for heavenly beings to span the immense universe of God. Daniel
felt in need and offered a prayer to his God which is recorded in Dan.
9:4-19. This short prayer of only fifteen verses can be read in less than
five minutes, but we may suppose he was very careful in his prayer and
took his time: Perhaps ten or even twenty minutes. Quoting Daniel's own
record: "And whiles I was speaking, and praying....Gabriel whom I had seen
in the vision....being caused to fly swiftly, touched me....and said, O
Daniel,...at the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth,
and I am come to shew thee." Dan. 9:20-23. Here is a record of a rate of
speed that is altogether beyond human comprehension. The prayer to heaven
and the angel to earth was accomplished in less than twenty minutes. Heaven
only knows how an angel can make that tremendous, unspeakable distance
in but a few minutes. There would be no trouble, difficulty, or any delay
on that most glorious journey after Christians once start on the way. But
we surely are slow to start, and that is our only problem that we must
solve in regards to the distance, and the journey from earth to heaven.