Let’s face it, we humans since our very early childhood years, have loved being told how good we are. Praise and adoration is often a thing that is looked at as a good thing, especially in the heathen world. But once we become converted, we have a new set of rules, set of behaviors, that we should and indeed must, follow.
This issue is, however, of supreme importance to preachers, pastors, and present truth message proclaimers.
In Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p.474-475 we read —
“Unwise Sabbathkeepers have pleased the devil well by praising their ministers. Were they aware that they were aiding Satan in his work? They would have been alarmed had they realized what they were doing. They were blinded, they were not standing in the counsel of God. I lift my voice of warning against praising or flattering the ministers.
I have seen the evil, the dreadful evil, of this. Never, never speak a word in praise of ministers to their faces. Exalt God.Ever respect a faithful minister, realize his burdens and lighten them if you can; but do not flatter him, for Satan stands ready at his watchtower to do that kind of work himself.” (Testimonies, vol. 1, p.474-475)
For a little personal history let me share something concerning our topic. Back when I first came into the SDA church in early 2009, I soon felt the urge from the Holy Spirit to begin to speak and write. In other words, since childhood I have sensed a calling and the time had come. The wayward son (me), as in the parable, after high living and pleasure, had decided to come home! Praise the Lord for His patience!
No more heathen world and all its lusts and distractions, it was finally time to –get down to business! God’s business! Soon I started this blog site and began to write about some of God’s Word and some of my personal experiences. All this, I hoped, would help encourage brethren around the world to follow the Lord and keep on the straight and narrow path.
But I did not fully know the road well at the start of my journey. Of course, this was all to be expected, after all, one does not get a master’s degree in the first month of their schooling! Our walk unrolls just as the Lord’s Word (Scroll) unrolls. The Spirit of Truth guides us as promised (John 16:13).
The Word says-
“Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Then that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.” (Isaiah 28:9)
So before I became enlighten with the last message from the Lord, I began writing posts for the blog back in November of 2009. After each post I would sign off Bro. Rob. In other words, I wanted to show that “I” had written the report with “my” understandings. I was attempting to bring some focus on myself, even though it was not purposely or intentionally done to exalt myself.
Then in May of 2011, the Lord guided me into the final message of Eliajh and things began to change, new light began to fill my mind and soul. In a short while, I was led to go back and take out all the sign-offs with my name and correct the posts. In other words, it is not brother Rob that needs to be highlighted, it’s the Lord and His truth! His Truth and Word is the focus.
So now let us look at a glaring example of the big sin which our prophetess wrote about in the above reference. As many of you know we have written some posts on Amazing Facts and their leader –Doug Batchelor. Before I came into the Elijah message I was very much into brother Doug’s teachings, particularly his Sabbath reports and sermons.
Recently I was viewing His “Doug Batchelor” YouTube channel and something hit me strikingly. I noticed many praise comments, not to the Lord but directed to Doug. Such examples are —
“I love Doug’s preaching,..” (Doge)
“Great job Doug you’re always do a good job the Lord must have total faith in your teaching because I could feel the power when you’re teaching from the Lord..” (Denny)
“Great sermon, Doug in a chair talking truth, no additives, all organic word…..thanks.”(Michael)
“God Bless Pastor Doug. His messages are changing my entire life.” (Sirley)
And those are just a few of the many many comments made in uplifting the messenger and not God! Of course these people are not fully aware of their sin, but by the Lord’s spirit, I made sure some of them would be!
I was led to make a comment on one of his recent videos. I quoted the SOP reference above, then I said the following —
“It’s one thing to praise God for the message of Truth, and another to praise the minister “your work” “you did a great job” “Doug is the best” etc. etc.
Apparently Doug saw it and to his credit wrote the following response ––
“Doug Batchelor –Thank you for this crucial reminder! All the praise must go to God and his work in every area of our lives. Never rasising the instrument above the master.–The Amazing facts team.”
The Word also tells us of a warning in Rev. 19:10, it reads —
“And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” … For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. ‘”
All that exalt someone who has the testimony of Jesus are told — Don’t do that. Further, anyone who is proclaiming a message from the Lord MUST not encourage nor condone such exaltation. This is exactly why the Lord’s prophetess warned us!
Is there a way to uplift a brother or sister about his work? Of course! A comment such as “Praise the Lord”, “These are words of Truth”, “Truth in all it’s glory”, etc, lets the messenger know that he has delivered Truth worthy of praise. But it is Truth (Jesus) that is glorified.
In closing, we know that the leaders and those who are heavily involved in the proclamation of the work are under BIG stress from the dark powers, as they have targets on their back for their faithful spreading of His final message of Elijah. So to encourage and uplift such a one is great, but we must guard our words and not let them be construed to exalt or replace the ONE who is deserving of such praise and exaltation. The time will come when ALL will get their just reward!
“He alone is your God, the only one who is worthy of your praise, the one who has done these mighty miracles that you have seen with your own eyes.”(Deut. 10:21)
The word Idol conjures up many things. Some think of pop star Idols like Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, etc. Others think of Hollywood stars such as Tom Cruise, Jennifer Lopez, etc.
Yet we as Kingdom seekers should know that the Word tells us of our correct understanding of Idols and what we must not do in following them. Let us read–
Isa. 2:17-20 — “And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols He shall utterly abolish. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth. In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats.”
What idols are to be abolished? — Idols that walk. They are, therefore, men whom the people idolize. They, and those who idolize them will run into “the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth.” Only those that cast out the idols shall be spared. In these verses three kinds of idols are mentioned: (1) works of men’s hands, (2) men that are revered, (3) gold and the silver that are worshipped. These shall be abolished, there are to be idols no more.
They and their worshipers are;
Isa. 2:21 — “To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth.”
If we do not now voluntarily cast out all our idols, we shall be forced to cast them later, but what good will it do us then? (Timely Greeting, vol.1, no.5, p.15)
Ah, so we see that these Idols in our midst are religious folk. They are the ones that should concern us. Once we are “born again” we should already have gotten rid of the world’s Idols. and thus our Idols come in holy garbs leading us astray.
In addition, we see that money and possessions can be an Idol if we are not careful. In this post we’d like to focus on man Idols, those among us who are now leading us Seventh-day Adventists astray, even as they speak “smooth things” to our itchy ears.
The following men are well-known in our midst. They have been around for a long time, plying their trade well and have gathered a very large following among us. Not in any particular order.
No. 1 — Stephen Bohr
Of all the following Idols in our midst this man stands out significantly for his work done recently on a YouTube series. As many who are readers of this blog know , our goal is enlightening God’s remnant people about the final message of Elijah (Mal. 4:5 and Micah 6:9). But this man has decided to hinder and block, if at all possible, this message.
He hired a man called “Ismael Rodriguez” who was a former Davidian Seventh-day Adventist. He invited him to his organizational compounds in Fresno, California to produce the series called “Theological Analysis of the Davidian Movement”. It was a 10 part video presentation filmed at Bohr’s headquarters.
Have you ever been involved in a certain field, or specialty, where you know it inside and out, all of its parts, specifics and ways? Then along comes someone who thinks they know it, yet they have little clue about it. You sit in amazement and wonder at their lack of knowledge. This is the situation with Bohr’s endeavor when he hired a woefully inept ex-spokesman for the Davidian movement–Ismael Rodriguez. But only those who are well grounded in the teachings would know this as Rodriguez is skillful in manipulation and twisting the Lord’s Rod. He has been doing this for decades now and gets paid nicely (just look at the expensive Rolex watch in his presentations).
This is not all that Bohr is doing to lead astray, he is also well-known for his private interpretations, such as his idea that the 24 elders in Rev. 4 are from other planets and not redeemed as the Word says. We did a post about this —
We are often amazed, and have posted on this before. The Lord CRIES unto us to hear His Rod (Micah 6:9) and yet men like Bohr warn us not to!
To summarize, this is one of the leading Idols among us today. Those that follow this man may soon find disaster. He has rejected the message of the hour and even worse, unlike the others to follow, stands in the way to hinder it.
“Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”(Luke 11:52)
No.2 — Walter Veith
Walter Veith is a long time teacher. His former profession was as a professor at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He taught evolution until he discovered holes in it and later embraced the Biblical creationist doctrine and became a Seventh-day Adventist.
Known for his folksy “ah shucks” laid back professor style, Veith has developed a big following among the SDA. His YouTube video presentations on a myriad of Bible subjects are very popular and widely viewed. Veith has a particular expert knowledge of the Catholic history and Jesuit doctrine.
However, nevertheless he continues to steer people towards a false end time scenario and Biblical prophecies. He does not teach of the “sudden coming” of our Lord to His remnant SDA church for the beginning judgment for the living on earth.
“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” ( 1 Peter 4:17)
“The class who do not feel grieved over their own spiritual declension, nor mourn over the sins of others, will be left without the seal of God. The Lord commissions His messengers, the men with slaughtering weapons in their hands: “Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.”
Here we see that the church–the Lord’s sanctuary–was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light and who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for miracles and the marked manifestation of God’s power as in former days.
Times have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His people in judgment. Thus “Peace and safety” is the cry from men who will never again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God’s people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that would not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children all perish together.”(Testimonies, vol. 5 p. 211)
He has almost an obsession with the Catholics and Jesuits, teaching that they are the real people to fear right now and that we should be ready for their end time move against God’s remnant church. Thus no one is warned that our church will be purified FIRST before any attempts of such damage comes to God’s people via opposers of His Truth.
No. 3 — Andrew and Hilari Henriques
Of all the SDA YouTube sites, this one ranks near the highest for most watched. This couple has made a career of calling out the sins of the Seventh-day Adventist church. We as present truth believers know that we are to “sigh and cry” for all the sins done in the church. Of highlighting and explaining our church short-comings, they do a thorough job we admit. Their YouTube site is called ProphesyAgainTV.
“The day of God’s vengeance is just upon us. The seal of God will be placed upon the foreheads of those only who sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land.” (Testimonies, vol. 5, p.212)
“Mark this point with care: Those who receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by a mark by the man in linen, are those “that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done” in the church.” (Testimonies, vol. 3, p.267)
However, let us never forget that Satan tries to be an “angel of light” in order to snag us and trip us up. This couple’s ministry is a perfect example. Why do we say this? Because they teach that the SDA church is Babylon and that we must come out of her. In other words, the good work of calling out the sins is negated by the terrible work of teaching that we must come out of the church in order not to be a part of the guilt within her. Exactly opposite of the Lord’s Rod message.
The final message of the Lord (Mal. 4:5) teaches us to sigh and cry for all the church sins, and our own sins BUT to stay in her for her own sake and to reach out and try to help her–not abandoned her!
“It matters not what they may do to us, we would rather die than to disobey the commandment of the Lord.The SDA church is not Babylon. If it were we would have been duty bound to come out, but since it is not, we have no place to go. Consequently, we shall stay in “Jerusalem” though it may be filled with thieves..”(Sym. Code, vol. 1, no. 14, p.9)
This couple’s ministry is indeed a sneaky attempt to steer away God’s people from their end time duty–work for the members and stay in her until that last day. They are indeed idolized by many Seventh-day Adventists.
No. 4 — Doug Batchelor
This man is so widely followed among us SDA that he is almost without peer. His organization –Amazing Facts, is a long time SDA ministry started by his predecessor Joe Crews. We have posted several times about Doug and his group.
Very knowledgeable, particularly about the Sabbath and Bible history. As mentioned before yours truly really appreciated his Sabbath knowledge when I first came into the SDA church back in early 2009. But sad to say Amazing Facts has stumbled big time in keeping up with the Lord’s unrolling scroll of Truth and prophecy.
His many YouTube videos cover many Biblical topics, yet nothing about the next move of our King. Just as with the others Doug shows little knowledge of the true “next” coming. Amazing Facts continues to prepare the people for the Lord’s coming in the clouds, when the Lord through His Elijah message says be ready for His “sudden coming” to His church first (Mal. 3:1-5).
But perhaps the most disturbing about Doug and his organization is their CONTINUAL asking and begging for money. Their emails, videos , newsletters make obvious and repetitive requests to be a “partner” in “Gods’ work”. This is no better than the pay for blessings TV pastors. In fact it is much worse because we are the last of the seven churches listed in Revelation, yet leaders like DB are stealthy steering us away from the Lord’s plan to redeem us via His church purification.
A while back we did a post showing what DB/Amazing Facts teaches versus the last prophet prophesied to come, the “Elijah”. See the following link.
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?” (Ezek. 34:2)
No. 5 — Kenneth Cox
Kenneth has been around a long time with the SDA. But there is no better example of one who has turned the Gospel into a money-making business. Just go on his ministry site and behold the vast amount of material he sells. A “complete set” of “The Revelation of Jesus Christ Series” for just –220.00! And the list goes on and on, music sales, daily devotionals, etc, etc. all for “on sale” prices.
“Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.” (Ezek. 34:3-4)
“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;”(1 Peter 5:2)
Cox is similar to Doug Batchelor, “we need your money to do God’s work” over and over again. He specializes in teaching Daniel and Revelation subjects yet is completely void of the Lord’s Elijah message teachings, which specifically deals with these VERY important prophecies.
One thing is common throughout these Idols, they teach a false end time event timeline. All teach that we should beware of the coming Sunday Law, as it is right around the corner and we SDA will be tried severely for our faith. False. The Lord’s final message teaches us, just as Elijah did, that we must be warned that we are about to be visited by the Lord. Thus many SDA will not even see this Sunday law.
“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Malachi 3:1-5)
In closing my brethren, the Lord has warned us that Idols in our midst, must be avoided. He has sent ONE LAST PROPHET to us His Seventh-day Adventist church. These men have rejected this prophet and his words. Let that not be said of us.
“Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.
They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word. Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken? ” (Ezekiel 13:3-7)
This last Wednesday evening the heathen around the world celebrated Halloween. Little kids and even adults take part in this ghoulish and frankly, Satanic day. But for the most part, and we are not making a justifiable excuse, they generally have little light on what they are really doing.
Ghost, goblins and even monsters have been glorified and made out to be even entertaining such as when the wildly popular heathen TV show –Addams Family was watched weekly during the 60’s. The main character (below) Herman Munster was clumsily going about his actions to the amusement of the USA audience.
However there is another “monstrous” act that is being done today in our remnant church midst and this one is not so humorous –it is running without being sent and without PRESENT TRUTH! Do we think it’s a light thing to do this?
“I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.” (Jer. 23: 21)
Recently it was announced from Doug Batchelor’s organization “Amazing Facts” that they would be building a huge sprawling complex, known as ” W.O.R.D Center ” (World Outreach Revival and Discipleship). They sent word through out the world that they needed 28 million for the project, two gigantic buildings totally 96,000 square feet and fit to “spread the Gospel to all the world.”
We have done a prior post highlighting the endless solicitation of funds from Amazing Facts, read here–
On Amazing Facts YouTube promo video (where we got that picture), some of the people’s comments showed much displeasure in this exorbitant and frankly unnecessary enterprise.
“reminds me of something Benny Hinn would do. This is dodgy as hell!”
” he tries to drop the hint for Adventist’s to sell their houses and land to fund the last $3 million he needs for this monstrosity! This is bad! Really bad! Every alarm inside my conscience is ringing with this, GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN!”
“I cant believe so much money has been wasted on a building, it’s wrong!”
“Why not spend around 50,000 usd in hundreds of locations around the world, rather than such a huge sum in one place.”
” exactly! How many schools and churches and hospitals, could’ve been built in the second and third world with that money? This just seems ego driven and gluttonous.”
“Mr preacher. Asking to sell your house or family’s patrimony Give to they’re high profit corporation Why doesn’t he sell his house’s And airplane to the project All religions are like Give me Give us Donate Sow your seed $$$
There is no doubt that the Amazing Facts organization thinks they are proclaiming the “Loud Cry” and spreading the Gospel to all the ends of the earth for preparation of Jesus’ second coming. Thus, the need to build what they think is God’s communicative center to reach the heathen around the world.
The message is very clear that we should not be in doubt, let us read–
“The Lord does not now work to bring many souls into the truth, because of the church members who have never been converted and those who were once converted but who have backslidden. What influence would these unconsecrated members have on new converts? Would they not make of no effect the God-given message which His people are to bear?” (Testimonies, vol. 6, p.370)
So if the Lord is not now working to bring souls into our church, who is? Yes, sadly it is of another spirit. This is why we must know the Lord sent His “Elijah” message for a reason! When our all-seeing Lord looked down through time to our day, the day of the Laodicean church, He very well knew that the Tares would someday nearly choke out the wheat. Thus it is today!
For example, we attend one of the local churches regularly, and once again as in times past, we witness at least 5 or six women with dresses that would perfectly fit in with the night clubs (NOT new comers)! The Pastor merrily shaking their hands as they pass out of the church at the conclusion of service. Wow!
The Elijah message says we are to be sealed, not only with the Sabbath Truth but with the following–
“The class who do not feel grieved over their own spiritual declension, nor mourn over the sins of others,will be left without the seal of God. The Lord commissions His messengers, the men with slaughtering weapons in their hands: “Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
Here we see that the church–the Lord’s sanctuary–was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God.The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light and who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for miracles and the marked manifestation of God’s power as in former days. Times have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His people in judgment.
Thus “Peace and safety” is the cry from men who will never again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God’s people their transgressionsand the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that would not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children all perish together.” (Testimonies vol. 5, p.211)
Questions and Answers —
Why is it wrong for Doug and his organization to spread the Gospel around the world. Does it not fulfill the Great Commission (Mark 16:15)?
Once again we come back to “present truth”. In Jesus’ day, the Great all-seeing One, told the Apostles to get going. Get the Gospel out to all the world. But as we continue to keep pace with His light , the unrolling of the scroll, we come to His last book in Malachi, specifically verse 4:5. There obviously is an end time message that would have to be spread among His people, thus Elijah was to come and give that message. You see, Doug nor almost all leading SDA preachers/teachers DO NOT believe in the literal fulfillment of the “Elijah” prophet coming. They spiritualize it away.
The message tells us that we, the S.D.A church is about to be spued out BEFORE those in the world are.
“..to devote our time to evangelizing the world while neglecting the church, would be a criminal act, one of highest treason both to God and to His people. The church must first be saved from her Laodicean condition of being “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” She, not the world, is just about to be spued out. She “is the only object on earth on which He bestows His supreme regard.”-Testimonies to Ministers, p. 15. (Answerer, vol. 2, Q- 32)
So here’s the big problem, our leaders today don’t view “sin” as “exceedingly sinful”. Therefore, they endlessly run without being sent to the world to “bring em in” while the church is already sinking in her overslaught of sin! They think God is winking at it all. Their thoughts are strictly diametrically opposed to SOP counsel —
“Only when the Church is composed of pure, unselfish members, can it fulfill God’s purpose. Too much hasty work is done in adding names to the church roll. Serious defects are seen in the characters of some who join the church. Those who admit them say, We will first get them into the church, and then reform them. But this is a mistake. The very first work to be done is the work of reform. Pray with them, talk with them, but do not allow them to unite with God’s people in church relationship until they give decided evidence that the Spirit of God is working on their hearts.”(RH, May 21, 1901)
“I have been shown that God here illustrates how He regards sin among those who profess to be His commandment-keeping people. Those whom He has specially honored with witnessing the remarkable exhibitions of His power, as did ancient Israel, and who will even then venture to disregard His express directions, will be subjects of His wrath. He would teach His people that disobedience and sin are exceedingly offensive to Him and are not to be lightly regarded.
He shows us that when His people are found in sin they should at once take decided measures to put that sin from them, that His frown may not rest upon them all. But if the sins of the people are passed over by those in responsible positions, His frown will be upon them, and the people of God, as a body, will be held responsible for those sins. In His dealings with His people in the past the Lord shows the necessity of purifying the church from wrongs.
One sinner may diffuse darkness that will exclude the light of God from the entire congregation. When the people realize that darkness is settling upon them, and they do not know the cause, they should seek God earnestly, in great humility and self-abasement, until the wrongs which grieve His Spirit are searched out and put away.” (Testimonies, vol. 3, p.265)
So Doug’s organization is no different from other S.D.A organizations and churches. They all have this mindset–bring in the numbers and God will do the rest. Not so according to Spirit of Prophecy!
Yes, the final Gospel proclamation will very soon go forth, but it’s from a PURE and sanctified church, not a mix of sinners and saints. Joshua’s example with Achan, is our type.
If Doug’s work is not God’s work for us as S.D.A, what specifically is?
Inspiration tells us–
“The true people of God, who have the spirit of the work of the Lord and the salvation of souls at heart, will ever view sin in its real, sinful character. They will always be on the side of faithful and plain dealing with sins which easily beset the people of God. Especially in the closing work for the church, in the sealing time of the one hundred and forty-four thousand who are to stand without fault before the throne of God, will they feel most deeply the wrongs of God’s professed people.” (Testimonies, vol. 3, p.266)
It’s the sealing of the 144,000! We are to labor for God’s final purified church. The Elijah message is our utmost goal and desire now. Yet those who have accepted this message know all too well that resistance will be great —
“I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.” (Ezek. 2:4-6)
In closing the work of so called “great men” will soon come to an end unless they turn tail and right the ship. Those who know this last message to our church know that this 28 million project is a monstrous bad idea.
“For the leaders of My people–the LORD’s watchmen, his shepherds–are blind and ignorant. They are like silent watchdogs that give no warning when danger comes. They love to lie around, sleeping and dreaming. Like greedy dogs, they are never satisfied. They are ignorant shepherds, all following their own path and intent on personal gain.” ( Isaiah 56:10-11)
“The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity and confusion. Satan, clothed in angel robes, will deceive, if possible, the very elect. There will be gods many and lords many. Every wind of doctrine will be blowing. Those who have rendered supreme homage to “science falsely so called” will not be the leaders then. Those who have trusted to intellect, genius, or talent will not then stand at the head of rank and file. They did not keep pace with the light.
Those who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the flock. In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” (Testimonies, vol. 5, p.80-81)
As we have posted a few times before, Doug Batchelor (hereafter referred as DB) holds a close place to many SDA’s heart. He was one of the first SDA leaders I learned from when I became a Seventh-day Adventist. Many of his DVD’s were purchased and I especially appreciated his very knowledgeable teaching of the Sabbath.
In fact when we decided to run a church Billboard advertising campaign high-lightening the Sabbath day, we didn’t even ask DB or Amazing Facts organization to put their information on the Billboard. We knew that their site was so informative and powerful in Sabbath information for those wanting to learn more, it was a no brainer. Later, they got wind of it and put an article in their world-wide magazine, picture and all.
I say all this to point out that DB is gifted in much knowledge of the Bible and our SDA doctrinal teachings. However, as we’ll show this knowledge must include “present truth” which is God’s latest road map to the kingdom.
“There are many precious truths contained in the Word of God, but it is “present truth” that the flock needs now.” (Early Writings, p.63)
We’ve personally had an email study with DB in the past and enjoyed it, although the intended result was not accomplished –to hear the Elijah message from DB. The following is the latest communication we’ve had with DB’s group–Amazing Facts.
After we sent it to Amazing Facts and several others via email, we received an email response from AF. It read as follows —
“Thanks for sharing”
K –Amazing Facts. (name omitted for their privacy)
We promptly responded –
“You’re welcome. Did you find it revealing?” Their response came a few days later–
“Robert, no I wouldn’t say revealing. I know there are some who believe this… of course you probably already know pastor Doug’s position:
“Although 1 Peter 4:17 says that judgment begins at the house of God,there is no exact statement that I know of in the Spirit of Prophecy regarding probation closing for the Adventists before others.
If probation closes for the church, what that essentially means is that people can no longer be saved into, or lost out of the church. If probation closed for the church, how could others be saved into it, as the loud cry goes out? So, to me, it seems to make more sense that probation closes for those individuals who have had the greatest light.
The evidence in Ezekiel 9:6 and 1 Peter also goes along with the story of Mary being caught in adultery in John 8:9. It says that beginning with the eldest even unto the last.
So I think that judgment, rather than beginning with those who are specifically members of the church, will begin with those who have had the longest lives and the greatest opportunities to respond to salvation. That is also why it says in Ezekiel 9:6, begin with the ancient men.” (We do not know whether “K” asked DB for a direct answer to the video or whether this was a statement made in prior recorded reports or videos)
Ok there is much for us to analyze here. Let’s look at DB’s position and see how it holds up to God’s word from His prophets, specifically compared to the Lord’s Elijah message.
In order to address his points clearly , we’ll discuss each paragraph’s main points.
1) In this first paragraph we see that DB has no knowledge of an “exact statement” in the SOP (EGW writings) showing that probation closes first for Adventists before others. While DB is right that there exists no direct statement saying this, there is a preponderance of evidence when the Scriptures, SOP and the Elijah message is studied.
As Bible students and Adventists, we know that there are basically three sources of Inspired writings Scripture, SOP (EGW writings) and Elijah message (VTH). In order to find that the close of probation happens first for God’s remnant SDA church we can do the following deduction by seeing Inspired references that can give us no other conclusion.
a. SOP announced that Rev. 7 sealings (of the 144k) are one and the same event as Ezek. 9 church judgment (Testimonies to Ministers, p.445). One saw the sealing (marking) and the other saw what happened to those not sealed. In other words the “great and dreadful day” of the Lord completes the sealing and completes the purification. Great for those sealed and dreadful for those not.
b. As Rev. 7 is the Scripture that speaks of the 144,000 sealed, we see also that the four winds are held back until this sealing is done, Rev. 7 /Ezek 9– are done. The four winds in this specific word of God represents the Sunday law ( Testimonies for the church, vol. 5, p.152).
There is much more evidence that the SDA probation closes first but that is one of the clear evidences that DB does not take into account.
2) In the second paragraph DB states that once the SDA probation closes the SDA church would cease to exist (unable to bring new converts into her). This is a fatal interpretive mistake and shows woeful ignorance of the Scriptural plan God has for His church. Additionally DB’s understanding of the “Loud Cry” is misguided because of his misunderstanding of the Ezek. 9 church judgment, its timing and purpose.
By looking at Rev. 12:15-17 we can see one of the clearest evidences that the church purification takes place before the time of trouble. Let us read–
“And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 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.”(Rev. 12:15-17)
DB ignores the fact that the “earth” , which is indicative of God’s miraculous work of Ezek. 9 (see Numbers 16:32 for the original type) swallows (takes away) the unconverted in the church. It is at this time that Satan gets enraged and go to make war. In other words it is the church purification that cause the time of trouble as never was (Dan 12:1).
But the most clear of all for showing the church purification and subsequent Loud Cry work is found in Isaiah 66:15-20.
“For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many. They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.
For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.”
Ah, in one fell swoop the Lord shows us the church purification and subsequent Loud Cry!
3) This third paragraph is quite a stretch in linking Ezek. 9:6 to John 8:9. There is simply no spiritual connection from what I see.
4) In this paragraph DB says that the judgment (meaning church) will begin “with thosewho have had the longest lives and the greatest opportunities to respond to salvation.”
This appears to be because DB uses the word “ancient” (“zaqen” H2205 in Hebrew) in Ezek. 9:6 to mean –old, advanced in years. But this fails miserably because when we understand the Hebrew word for ancient we learn the following:
This word is predominantly used for elders not old people. On this strength alone we see that the church judgment begins with the elders, the leaders who have had great light. SOP reiterates these points–
“Study the 9th chapter of Ezekiel. These words will be literally fulfilled; yet the time is passing, and the people are asleep. They refuse to humble their souls and to be converted. Not a great while longer will the Lord bear with the people who have such great and important truths revealed to them, but who refuse to bring these truths into their individual experience. The time is short. God is calling; will you hear? Will you receive His message? Will you be converted before it is too late? Soon, very soon, every case will be decided for eternity.” (Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, p.260)
Notice rather than saying it applies to old people or any other certain group of SDA, SOP says judgment will apply to “the people”. They should already know “great and important truths” but they continue to walk (show obedience) contrary to what they know. In other words the Lord’s final message of Elijah is predominantly a “no-show” among the SDA people. The message of the 144,000 and reformation sits alone and largely ignored. The leaders have refused to “receive His message” and therefore the people likewise.
Pastor Doug has much knowledge of the SDA truths yet as was shown there seems no advancement into more light, the light of present truth. This glaring deficiency is typical of those who fail to truly believe in God’s word, as sincere as they may appear —
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. “(Mal. 4:5)
These words of Malachi do not register with many of our SDA leaders such as DB, Steve Wohlberg, Stephen Bohr, Danny Shelton, etc. They do not think that the Lord literally meant that He would send a prophet “Elijah” to His people in the last days. Hence, these self-important men feel that they have a message from the Lord and there is no such thing as any message from the “Elijah” to come per Malachi 4:5-6.
But by God’s grace and mercy we average laymen will seek the Lord with all our hearts and believe in His word as it reads.
“In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view.”(Testimonies, vol. 5, p.80)
“In every age there is a new development of truth, a message of God to the people of that generation. The old truths are all essential; new truth is not independent of the old, but an unfolding of it. It is only as the old truths are understood that we can comprehend the new. When Christ desired to open to His disciples the truth of His resurrection, He began “at Moses and all the prophets” and “expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Luke 24:27. But it is the light which shines in the fresh unfolding of truth that glorifies the old. He who rejects or neglects the new does not really possess the old. For him it loses its vital power and becomes but a lifeless form. (Christ’s Object Lessons, p.127-128)
As many of you know Doug Batchelor of Amazing facts is really doing a fantastic job spreading God’s truth. If at all possible please go to his website often and discover a site blessed by God and professing SO MUCH truth. Everything from the Commandments to explainations about subjects such as hell, after death, heaven, and much more. You’ll be blessed and more knowledgeable. His site is www.amazingfacts.org
The following are some facts obtained from one of his monthly magazine. These are truly amazing and inspiring.
There are 1188 chapters in the whole Bible. Guess what verse is right in the very middle of the Bible? Psalms 118.8. Now tell me God is not the design of this!
Dr. Peter Stone, former chairman of the department of mathematics astronomy, and engineering at Pasadena College in California, worked with 600 students applying the “principle of probability to the Bible prophecies of the coming of the Messiah.
1) Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
2) Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14)
3) Of David’s lineage (Jeremaih 23:5)
4) Attempted murder by Herod (Jeremiah 31:15)
5) Betrayal by a friend (Psalm 41:9)
6) Sold for 30 silver coins (Zechariah 11:12)
7) Pierced (Zechariah 12:10)
8 ) Lots casted for His clothes (Psalms 22:18)
9) No bones broken (Psalms 34:20 Exodus 12:46)
10) Buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9)
11)Year, Day, Hour of His death ( Daniel 9:26 Exodus 12:6)
12) Raised the third day (Hosea 6:2)
They chose just 8 of those prophecies from hundreds available and determined the chances of all eight being fulfilled in one man in a lifetime. Here is the chance of that happening
1 in 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 !
Let’s just say only God could have divinely made this happen.
For those who are “New testament” believers only and say that this is the only book that is relevant today this is something you should know. Jesus quoted at least 10 % of everything he said from the Old testament.
The Bible, in part or whole has been translated into nearly 2000 languages. The most translated book of all time.
These are just a few tidbits from Amazing facts publications. May you discover this great site and have God show you some amazing things.
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