Light of Prophecy 1844

Where Will It all End?

Sin – a Condition?

In the Norwegian SDA journal Advent Nytt, No. 5, 2016, Reidar Johansen Kvinge replies to a question from Jan T. Skonnord about whether we can become free of sin. He responds: "We may never become faultless. Sin is a condition, not only wrong actions..."

We thank Reidar for his simple and straightforward reply, but is it correct? Is sin a condition? Is sin something we are? He acknowledges that sin is wrong actions. The biblical definition of sin we find in I John 3:4. "Whosover committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." Thus, sin is breaking God’s Ten Commandments. We can agree on that one. But then is dished up the great tenet of the New Theology being taught at Newbold College, namely that sin is something we are. Sin is a condition. That is to say, we carry sin with us all the time. This can be likened unto Augustine’s original sin, according to which we are born with sin. We are born as sinners. Sin is our very nature; something residing within us the entire time. We cannot get rid of it. We may find forgiveness for our sins, but we still retain them and are sinners. Sinners we are, sinners we will become and be even until Jesus returns. Then, we will be changed and made free from sin. Thus readeth this horrible teaching. With this New Theology doctrine they are leading people into oblivion. It does not lead to salvation, for Jesus came to set us free from sin, not to save us in sin. However, my dear friend, unless we are transformed in our minds and set free from sin in this time of grace, we cannot be saved.

The fact, that the Union President of SDAs in Norway holds to the teaching that sin is a condition is deplorable. But it would seem this teaching has got an even greater hold on the SDA leadership, than one would be led to believe. We assume he is backed up by his father-in-law and former Union President, Rolf Kvinge, as well as by the other Union leaders, Roger Robertsen and Tor Tjeransen?! And why are not the rest of the pastors standing forward to protest this heresy? Do they share the Union President’s view and teaching? Should they be paid with the tithe?

Jesus has done it all for us, these new theologians say, therefore we are under grace. And then they point to Ephesians 2:8-9. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. And that is as far as they will go. Indeed, Jesus has done it all to save us, and we are saved by His grace, not by our own works. However, faith is to blossom through works, or it is a dead faith. If we have been born again, the fruits of the Spirit will be evident in our lives. Our works will be a result of our faith. Hence, Paul goes on to pen the following in Ephesians 2:10: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

Titus phrases it this way: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world". Titus 2:11-12.

Grace, then, encourages us strongly to live righteously before God. Now, why should we live righteously before God, when it is said we cannot escape from sin, that we are carrying sin with us all the time? We do realise that the teaching of sin being something we are, does not hold water, and that it does not harmonise with the Word of God.

John writes: "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." II John, verses 9-11. Paul writes: "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." Romans 16:17.

In the Joint Declaration of the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church concerning the doctrine of righteousness, it says under point 4.4: "The Christian is at the same time righteous and sinner." Thus, Reidar J. Kvinge shares some of this thinking, namely that children are born with sin, or as sinners. Sin is something we are. But this equals Augustine’s doctrine of original sin, and we, as SDAs, are not to uphold this type of doctrine.

Conclusion: In the King James Version, sin is that of the mother. The baby was born in iniquity, not to commit iniquity. In Bible 2011 the baby is born a sinner, just like we read in the Joint Declaration of the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church, i.e. that a Christian is righteous and a sinner at the same time. They are of the opinion that you are and become a sinner, and that sin remains in you. This is not the biblical doctrine of righteousness. Nobody can be saved in sin. In the Bible it says that "Jesus came to save us from sin"… not in sin (Matthew 1:21).

The Bible clearly says that we can become free of sin, thus: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." II Corinthians 5:17.

John expresses it this way: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9.

And we may ask: How much sin remains in us, when He forgives us our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness? Answer: None. These new theologians, though, persistently believe that sin is something we are. We are doomed to never be able to distance ourselves from sin. They do not take Jesus at His word, when He says that He frees us from all sin and unrighteousness.

Granted, we are born with a sinful nature – following Adam’s fall. This, however, does not imply we are born as sinners. Jesus, too, was born with a sinful nature. We read: "God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh". Romans 8:3.

Jesus came in a sinful, weakened nature, but He never sinned. Jesus came as a human, because where Adam fell, Jesus had to be victor. He had to overcome in the same nature Adam had after the fall. We also have to overcome Satan’s temptations in this sinful, weakened nature. We cannot escape from our own nature, but we can escape from sin. That is the difference!

Reidar J. Kvinge asks: Was Jesus a sinner? And we can add this question: Was Jesus born with sin? No, if Jesus was not born with sin, we are not born with sin, as sinners, either.

The Bible says: "The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father". Ezekiel 18:20. Thus, we are not born with sin. Sin is something we do, not something we are.

Jesus lived in harmony with God’s will. The question is, whether we can live in harmony with God’s will – live without sinning, be free of sin, be sin-free?

Paul writes that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God". Romans 3:23. Yes, we can all agree on this, but may a converted Christian receive the power from God to live without sinning?

"The enemy was overcome in His (Christ’s) human nature. The power of the Saviour’s Godhead was hidden. He overcame in human nature, relying upon God for power. This is the privilege of all. In proportion to our faith will be our victory." (Ellen G. White, The Youth’s Instructor, April 25, 1901).

- Ellen G. White, Manuscript 1, 1892.

Is it, then, possible – after the new birth – to live in harmony with God’s will? The answer is YES! Not in our own might, but in the Holy Spirit’s power in us! Do you doubt this? Well, it looks like Reidar does. He does not believe we, as born-again Christians, are able to live without sin. But Jesus has said: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Matthew 28:18. His power is mightier than Satan’s power. In God’s power we are able to come off more than victors. If we are to be God’s representatives on this earth until Jesus comes, God will wish to have a people able to represent Him. In God’s power they will live in harmony with God’s will and give evidences of God’s character in their lives. Ellen G. White confirms it in this way: "When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own." - E. G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 69.

"The seal of the living God will be placed upon those only who bear a likeness to Christ in character." - Ellen G. White, Review & Herald, May 21, 1895 and Testimonies to the church, vol. 5. P. 212

"The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious world-loving man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of false tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal must be without spot before God – candidates for heaven." Ellen G. White, Testimonies, Volume 5, p. 216.

As Adventists, we often point to Revelation 14:12. Have you considered what it really says: It says that those, who will represent Jesus during the final hours of the last days, will keep God’s commandments and have the faith of Jesus? If they keep God’s commandments, they will not be breaking His commandments. They will be living in harmony with God’s will. Then they will be without sin. They will have ceased sinning.

In Revelation 22:14 we read the following: "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."

If they do His commandments, they will not be sinning. They will be without sin, because we have read that sin is the breaking of God’s Ten Commandments (I John 3:4).

On page 18 of the same issue of Advent Nytt we find a statement by Ellen G. White. She writes: "‘Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him.’ 1 John 3:5-6. Here is the true test. If we abide in Christ, if the love of God dwells in us, our feelings, our thoughts, our purposes, our actions, will be in harmony with the will of God as expressed in the precepts of His holy law. ‘Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.’ 1. John 3:7. Righteousnesss is defined by the standard of God’s holy law, as expressed in the ten precepts given on Sinai…

What did we read here? Well, a person who is in Him, does not live in sin, and the condition for achieving eternal life is complete obedience to the law of God. How can Kvinge then say, that sin is something we are?

The question, therefore, is this: Is it possible to form a perfect character here and now, before the return of Jesus, or will we have one, when He comes again? What does the Bible say?

"Now unto him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy." Jude verse 24.

"Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." II Peter 3:14.

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." I Thessalonians 5:23.

"And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming." I John 2:28.

"I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ". I Timothy 6:13-14.

"… he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." I Thessalonians 3:13.

Finn Eckhoff, organisational secretary to the Norwegian SDA Union, writes in several places in his article "we all agree"… and goes on to defend accepting women as equal with men as pastors and leaders of the church. His foundation is not the Word of God or Ellen G. White, but his own words and judgments are. However, we do not all agree with Finn Eckhoff, Reidar Johansen Kvinge and the others, who made this decision at the Union. Many SDA members disagree with them; hence it is manipulative to write in several places that we all agree concerning this.

We have noticed that the Adventist Church in Sweden and Denmark shares the position of the Norwegian SDA leadership, and they feel that we discriminate against the women, unless we put them on an equal footing with the men. We all hold the same value before God, but He has handed us different tasks.

Finn Eckhoff points to a statement from the General Conference, where it says that: "The church rejects any system or philosophy which discriminates against anyone on the basis of race, color, or gender. The Church bases its position on principles clearly enunciated in the Bible, the writings of Ellen G. White, and the official pronouncement of the General Conference. –GC Working Policy BA 60 05.

Finn Eckhoff ends his quotation here. But before and after this quotation there is more. Before the quotation we read the following: " Although the GC has formally considered and rejected proposals regarding the ordination of women at two GC sessions, there is no specific prohibition of such ordination in the General Conference Working Policy, the official, annually revised repository of GC policy.

Now, this is interesting. You see, when the General Conference has been gathered every 4 or 5 years (GC in Session), it has never accepted women as pastors or in positions of leadership within the church. However, those serving at the General Conference have decided we are not to discriminate against anybody because of their sex. And then they add: "The Church bases its position on principles clearly enunciated in the Bible, the writings of Ellen G. White, and the official pronouncement of the General Conference.

To defend their position, they refer to the text in Galatians 3:28: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

This Scripture, though, is not about female pastors and leaders within the church. It is about salvation. All, who accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour, are one in Christ Jesus.

We believe, that all reading this will realise that the General Conference – with all members gathered (in Session) – never has acknowledged women as pastors and leaders of the church. This decision has been based on the Word of God. However, leaders of the General Conference have acknowledged a different policy. That is to say, the General Conference does not concur with the members, nor is it in harmony with the Word of God. They have accepted the human anti-discrimination law, which says that we are not to discriminate because of gender. This makes it easier to understand Ted Wilson’s statement to Reidar Johansen Kvinge about females being pastors of the SDA Church.

The question arises: Why did the SDA Church at the highest level accept the anti-discriminatory law in the connection of equality between men and women? Do we find such a law in the Word of God? No, in this connection we think it is prudent to yet again point to God’s Word regarding this subject. Throughout the Bible, in both the Old and the New Testament, men were priests in the church, not women. The Bible says the women were to be subordinate. All the way from the Garden of Eden they were told this. Eve was the first to sin, and God wanted from the beginning to show that it does not pay to go against Him. Her punishment, therefore, was to give birth in pain and to be in subjection to her husband. Paul refers also to this in his writings in I Timothy 2:12-14.

In Ephesians 5:22-24 we find this Scripture: "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing."

The order for governing the home shall also be for governing the church, because Paul also writes that a leader in the church shall be the husband of one wife – not the other way around. In addition, he writes that if anyone fails to govern his own household, how can he then manage the church of God? I Timothy 3:2-5.

These Scriptures clearly differentiate between women and men. God did not adhere to the anti-discrimination law when making this conclusion. Is this hard to see? And it was because of Eve’s sin that the consequences were so grave. She was disobedient to God, and we cannot now once more be disobedient to Him. Ellen G. White puts it this way: "The tree of knowledge had been made a test of their obedience and their love to God…By partaking of the tree, he declared, they would attain to a more exalted sphere of existence and enter a broader field of Knowledge…Satan tempts men to disobedience by leading them to believe they are entering a wonderful field of knowledge. But this is all a deception. Elated with their ideas of progression, they are, by trampling on God’s requirements, setting their feet in the path that leads to degradation and death.

Eve had been perfectly happy by her husband’s side in her Eden home; but, like restless modern Eves, she was flattered with the hope of entering a higher sphere than that which God had assigned her. In attempting to rise above her original position, she fell far below. A similar result will be reached by all who are unwilling to take up cheerfully their life duties in accordance with God’s plan. In their efforts to reach positions for which He has not fitted them, many are leaving vacant the place where they might be a blessing. In their desire for a higher sphere, many have sacrificed true womanly dignity and nobility of character, and have left undone the very work that Heaven appointed them." – Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets. Chapter: The Temptation and Fall.

Due to Eve’s disobedience, God told the woman: "I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." Genesis 3:16.

Today we see that the women have tasted the pastoral fruit. It is pleasant to their taste, and they feel elevated to a higher plane. And the male pastors are supporting this female liberation, by forming a hedge around them, reasoning they should be on an equal footing with the men. What seduction, what deception! The consequences are already here! Now the Union President in Norway is calling for more tithe money and gifts to ensure more female candidates do become pastors. They also hope to renovate their churches and other important buildings, so that the whiting of the walls may appear fair from the outside. The inside, however, is full of dead men’s bones. Jesus told the priests: Cleanse first the inside of the platter (Matthew 23:25-26). And that is necessary now. There is so much filth on the inside of the church today. How can the pastors count on more tithes, when they are covering all the bad things inside the church, by whiting the walls on the outside?

Several laymen in various nations have tried pointing out what is bad about the apostasy gradually sneaking into the church, but no response or change has been forthcoming. The apostasy simply goes on. Those pointing out the apostasy are viewed as critical, while the pastors believe they are controlling things. This has been the case for many years. The leaders have attempted to put a beautiful cloak over the abominations, not least through Advent Nytt, but every member of the church has the capacity to think, and it is impossible to cover the abominations in the long run. Jesus says that what they whisper in the corners, they will shout from the rooftops. Luke 12:3. The Bible also describes the leaders as dumb dogs unable to bark (Isaiah 56:10-11). If we spot dangers without sounding the alarm, the blood of others will be on our heads (Ezekiel 33:1-9). Thus, we are called upon to cry aloud and spare not in cautioning about sin and apostasy (Isaiah 58:1).

Jesus has given our church His diagnosis. The Laodicean church themselves believe they are rich and in need of nothing, but they are poor, blind and naked. Revelation 3:14-22. And we cannot be saved in this Laodicean condition. Unless we realise our blindness, accept the eye-salve, acknowledge our sin and, with God’s power in our lives, turn our backs on sin and this apostasy, we shall not be saved. Nobody will be saved in the Laodicean condition. Only those will be saved, who accept salvation in Jesus Christ by faith, recognise and confess their sin, and turn from sin, and then live in harmony with God’s will through His might.

But the SDA leaders defend their Laodicean position. We entertained three SDA leaders in our home on October 12^{th, 2015, who wished to entangle us in this union of apostasy. They felt we were not up to date. However, we told them we had no desire to be part of ecumenism, pop and rock music, drama and theatre, New Theology preaching not ensuring salvation, etc. We would rather be a part of the company that follows Jesus whithersoever He goeth (I John 1:5-7). In this connection this question arises: Can we be in harmony with our leaders and share true unity with them,}

1. When they have turned us into a commercial enterprise and tied us to trademark laws and governmental anti-discriminatory legislation?

2. When they have brought us into 501 c3, whereby we enjoy tax-free status and, thus, are placed under the laws of the State?

3. When they have aligned us with the ecumenical movement, which follows the strategy of Rome?

4. When they have joined us to labour unions, contrary to the advice we have received?

5. When they use tithe funds to speculate in the trade market?

6. When they print just a few chapters of the book The Great Controversy in the new book The Great Hope (11 out of 42 chapters), in which they have removed all about the papacy, the image to the beast and the mark of the beast, the sanctuary and lots else besides?

7. When they accept upwards of 80 % government support for our schools, health institutions and care homes, thus making us dependent on governmental funds?

8. When they teach the New Theology, which does not lead to salvation?

9. When they use drama and theatre and pop/rock music from our pulpits?

10. When they make a law of women becoming pastors and leaders in the church, contrary to the Word of God?

… and the list can be made even longer. This is a major apostasy which has been ongoing for many years, and it is getting increasingly worse! The SDA leaders, though, simply defend the prevailing situation. They do not recognise our apostasy.

The entire history of Israel, as we find it in the Bible, tells us that since the leaders of Israel refused to confess their apostasy, they had to face the consequences. Bands of robbers came into the camp, stealing and rampaging at will. Crops were ruined. There was war and bloodshed, and they were brought into captivity. We know that modern day Israel is going to repeat the sins of ancient Israel. Ellen G. White states it like this:

"The sin of ancient Israel was in disregarding the expressed will of God and following their own way according to the leading of unsanctified hearts. Modern Israel is fast following in their footsteps and the displeasure of the Lord is surely resting upon them." - Ellen G. White, Testimonies, Volume 5, pp. 93, 94.

"I have been shown that the Spirit of the world is fast leavening the church. You are following the same path as ancient Israel...your neglect to follow the light will place you in a more unfavorable position than the Jews upon whom Christ pronounced a woe." Ellen G. White, Testimonies, Volume 5, pp. 75-77.

"The distance is widening between Christ and His people, and lessening between them and the world. The marks of distinction between Christ’s professed people and the world have almost disappeared. Like ancient Israel, they follow after the abominations of the nations around them." Ellen G. White, Testimonies, Volume 1, p. 277.

Ezekiel drew the same conclusion, when he was shown what was taking place in the inner rooms of the sanctuary. The further he went into the rooms of the sanctuary, the worse were the abominations he saw there (Ezekiel chapter 8). This tells us that the leaders make many decisions out of harmony with the will of God, and many abominations are being carried on/practised in the church. This is revealed in the Word of God – and this is speaking about our time!

It is absolutely incredible that our leaders fail to see the writing on the wall! We ourselves and many others have highlighted concrete sins and apostasies prevalent within our church denomination, but our leaders turn a deaf ear to this. They believe God still is on our side, and that things will turn out well. That is their thinking. But we are obliged to learn from history. Things did not turn out well for Israel. Only in their bitter captivity did they confess their sin and apostasy. Is this what will happen to us, too? There are underlying reasons why the Lord is unable to bless us like He would love to. Go through those 11 points again, and you will see that something needs to be done about this, before the Lord can use us in the way He would dearly do.

The Adventist denomination has now existed for ca. 150 years. In 1895, Ellen G. White wrote the following:

"In the center of the work matters are being shaped so that every other institution is following in the same course. And the General Conference itself is becoming corrupted with wrong sentiments and principles." - E.G. White, Testimonies to Ministers, p. 359.

The same year (1895), she also wrote the following: "If the cords are drawn much tighter, if the rules are made much finer, if men continue to bind their fellow-laborers closer to the commandments of men, many will be stirred by the Spirit of God to break every shackle and assert their liberty in Christ Jesus." - Ellen G. White, Review & Herald, July 23rd, 1895.

In 1896 she wrote this: "The same work that has been done in the past will be carried forward under the guise of the General Conference Association. The sacred character of this association is fast disappearing. Who will then be respected as pure, and undefiled? Will there be any voice that God’s people can respect as a voice to be respected? There certainly is nothing now that bears the divine credentials. Who can now feel sure they are in respecting the voice of the General Conference Association? Much pride and loftiness, and a spirit which desire to rule, has been manifested; but very little of the spirit which leads men to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn of Him has been shown. Human inventions and human plans are eclipsing sacred things, and excluding divine instruction. Men are taking the place of God by seeking to assume authority over their fellowmen." – Taken from a letter to Elder O.A. Olsen, Sunnyside, Cooranbong, NSW, May 31, 1896.

In 1901, she wrote the following: "That these men should stand in a sacred place to be the voice of God to the people as we once believed the General Conference to be, that is past." General Conference Bulletin 1901, p. 25, col. 2, par. 1.

The same year, she wrote this: "The voice of the General Conference has been represented as an authority to be heeded as the voice of the Holy Spirit. But when members of the General Conference Committee became entangled in business affairs and financial perplexities, the sacred elevated character of their work is to be a great degree lost. The temple of God becomes a place of merchandise, and the ministers of God’s house as commercial business men." - E.G. White, General Conference Bulletin 1901, p. 76.

We would like to say a bit more about what 501 C3 is, which gives the SDA Church tax-exempt status. The SDA leaders joined the church to 501 C3 in 1950. And we are still under 501 C3. Hence, we are under the laws of the State. We have bound ourselves to adhere to civil laws, and the civil laws (the laws of the State) stipulate that we cannot discriminate against someone because of their gender, sexual persuasion, etc. Because of this, the SDA Church is being scrutinised. The SDA denomination is now being tested by those behind 501 C3, to determine whether we adhere to the laws of the State or not. And the State has determined that we must not discriminate against anyone because of their gender or sexual orientation. All our institutions are now, therefore, being confronted by this question – our schools, hospitals, health centres, care homes, publishing houses, etc. We have entangled ourselves in a spider web, and the only way, in which to disentangle ourselves, is to exit the 501C3 tax-exempt status, as well as the trademark laws – all of which bind us to governmental laws and the legislation on discrimination. We have to set ourselves free from these bands, to be able to follow the Bible and the Bible alone.

We are no longer Protestants, because we have fastened ourselves to the State. A true Protestant will free himself from agreements with the State like these, to be at liberty to follow the Bible and the Bible alone! Unless our leaders will do this, each one of us will be forced to do so. We dare not follow our leaders now that they have entangled us in this spider web!

The question is: How are we going to be able to fully stand on God’s side, when we have one leg in Babylon and one leg in God’s Word? No, God does not accept hypocrisy of this order. Either we will have both our legs in Babylon, or in the Word of God. Yes, of course we will follow Christ, these leaders say. But it is useless to give a promise, unless we are willing to follow up in practise what we believe to be right. And it is here that the rubber meets the road. Our actions/practise is not in harmony with our words. Double-mindedness like this God will not accept. When Jesus mentioned the priests of His day, He said: "do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not." Matthew 23:3. Jesus saw through their hypocrisy, and that is a warning to us in this day and age, too!

We are in a religious crisis! And Ellen G. White also addresses this issue:

"If God abhors one sin above another of which His people are guilty, it is doing nothing in case of an emergency. Indifference and neutrality in a religious crisis is regarded of God as a grievous crime and equal to the very worst type of hostility against God." E.G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Volume 3, p. 281.

"God would have His servants prove their loyalty by faithfully rebuking transgression, however painful the act may be. " - E.G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 323-324.

"If wrongs are apparent among His people, and if the servants of God pass on indifferent to them, they virtually sustain and justify the sinner, and are alike guilty and will just as surely receive the displeasure of God; for they will be made responsible for the sins of the guilty." - E.G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Volume 3, pp. 265-266.

Hence, the storehouse must be more than the account of the church, this being so because Ellen G. White stated that even though she would give the money directly to some missionary workers, it ended up in the storehouse. The tithe is God’s money. The recipients of this money must, therefore, represent God’s cause in their lives and teachings! If the money is handed over to others, perhaps we should say these are robbing God of His tithe means? This gives us more food for thought!

As far as sponsorship of Christian Information Service goes, most donations are given by non-SDAs. This is truly special, but a great blessing from the Lord! We do hope the SDA leaders do not mean that this money, too, ought to go their way, because some of it may also be tithes?

Can it be that the SDA leaders have held back the salary they ought to have given to the laity (all over the world), who use all of their time doing evangelistic work? Can it be that the pastors and leaders have heaped together treasure in these last days? Can it be that there is not money enough for others wanting to preach, because the pastors will not accept lower wages? Can it be that the gold and the silver will be a witness against the rich? Can it be that they have killed the just? There are many ways of killing. Mental murder or suppression may be as painful as regular killing. What was it that Jesus said: "Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city". Here, Jesus is talking about the priests persecuting those proclaiming the clear message from the Word of God, and who today also are preaching the message to Laodicea, revealing the sorry state among God’s people. If we fail to realise our sin and apostasy, we cannot be saved. Jesus came to save us from sin, not in sin. That is why it is so important to proclaim the Laodicean message clearly, allowing us to understand our wretched condition, and to accept the free medicine from the Lord – His eye-salve, that sin and apostasy may be acknowledged and confessed. Then, Jesus will forgive our iniquities and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9.

Shortly after being elected leader of the SDA denomination in 2010, Ted Wilson said they would print over 100 million copies of the book The Great Controversy. People got excited and have given large donations for this book to be printed and distributed. It amazes us that those in the highest SDA echelons now are printing the book The Great Hope instead of the book The Great Controversy. The volume The Great Controversy contains 42 chapters. The volume The Great Hope only has 11 chapters. In this little book they have removed the text about

1. The cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary.

2. The second angel’s message about coming out of Babylon.

3. The third angel’s message unmasking Sunday as the mark of the beast.

4. Parts of the first angel’s message concerning the investigative judgment having started in 1844, according to the prophecy in Daniel 8:14.

5. The text revealing the identities of Babylon and her daughters.

6. The text identifying the beast of Revelation 13 and the whore of Revelation 17.

7. The text about the little horn in the book of Daniel. This entity persecuted the people of God from 538 to 1798 – and it will also launch the persecutions of God’s loyal people in the last days of this earth’s history.

8. The text about Martin Luther and all the reformers, and their struggle against the Catholic Church.

9. The text telling who the Anti-Christ is.

10. The text about the mark of the beast and the image of the beast, and how the USA and the Vatican will co-operate in order to introduce the mark of the beast and the image of the beast.

This is a major apostasy. Ellen G. White, the author of The Great Controversy, wished for the entire book to be published. Now, they have removed vital truths about the second and the third angel’s messages in Revelation 14:6-12 and 18:4, and then they claim that Ellen G. White is the author of this little book. Were Ellen G. White alive today, she would most certainly have protested, ordering to reprint the complete volume.

We are astonished that the highest SDA leaders have accepted this reduced version of this marvellous book. However, the SDA denomination is, to a higher degree than most imagine, a part of the ecumenical movement, and that is why it is lowering its banner to be accepted. The leaders fear being called a cult or a sect, and wish to be seen as a Christian church alongside the other ones, both the Roman Catholic Church and the fallen Protestant denominations.

Neal Wilson was the first person to openly state that what the SDA Church used to say about the Roman Catholic Church, had been consigned to the trash heap of history (Neal Wilson on February 6th, 1976).

And so now his son, Ted Wilson, has followed his father’s statement up by accepting the printing of The Great Hope instead of The Great Controversy. This is an indication that these leaders are not true Adventists. They are ecumenical leaders, who say nice words, but do not follow through with their actions. They are false shepherds lulling the people to sleep and leading them astray!

As you can see from the picture on the back cover of this booklet, they have made a Tower of Babel out of the book The Great Controversy. The word Babel means confusion, which may be the reason why they are not printing The Great Controversy, but the little book The Great Hope. The image on the back cover of this booklet speaks volumes for itself. It reveals what is going on at the top of the SDA Church, and that several of her leaders are apostates, whose cowardly decisions please the papal power. In Revelation 21:8 we read of those, who will die the second death, in the lake of fire, following the 1,000 years. The first ones to be mentioned are the cowardly. That certainly gives all of us food for thought!

From the SDA Inter-European Division we got, on December 2nd, 2014 this information: "Dr. Ganoune Diop was voted the new Secretary-General at the annual conference of the secretariats of the Christian World Communions. Diop is pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He is the contact person for the worldwide SDA church at the United Nations (UN), as Deputy Director of the Department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty at the Adventist General Conference in Silver Springs, Maryland, USA. The Conference of Secretaries represent about two billion Christians and cover more churches than any other organization."

Imagine the SDA Church at its highest level accepting its man as Secretary General in the world’s major ecumenical organisation! The churches represented are the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, the Lutheran Church, the Methodist Church, the Baptist Church… just to mention a few. All of these are called Christian in the SDA piece of information. Even the Roman Catholic Church is now considered Christian. It is no longer the Anti-Christ, but Christian. What an apostasy!

When Ted Wilson was elected leader of the SDA Church, he said we should not form ties to the ecumenical collaboration. Now, though, those at General Conference level have accepted having Ganoune Diop in this position in the world’s greatest ecumenical organisation. That is not enough, however. In 1998 there was formed another ecumenical organisation. It is called Global Christian Forum (GCF). The strategy of the Global Christian Forum is:

1. To have close connections to the World Council of Churches.

Notice that this organisation is called Global Christian Forum. Thus, the name itself of this organisation proclaims that its members are Christians. We can enumerate some of the participants, namely the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, the Pentecostal Church, the Methodist Church, the Lutheran Church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church… to name only a few. All are considered Christians here, too. Martin Luther and the reformers clearly stated that the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope is the Anti-Christ. In its early history, the SDA denomination also proclaimed this fact loudly. Now the Protestants, who have become fallen Protestants, are calling the Roman Catholic Church Christian. Indeed, we have even seen the SDA leaders calling the Roman Catholic Church Christian. What deception!

In 2012, two new members were added to the Global Christian Forum.

1. The General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, represented by Ganoune Diop

It amazes us that Ted Wilson, the SDA world leader, gave his blessing for Ganoune Diop to be selected to represent the SDA Church in the Global Christian Forum. Diop is a member of the committee of this ecumenical movement (Ministry, March 2014).

Ted Wilson preaches that we are to cross the River Jordan into the heavenly Canaan, but in reality he is crossing the Tiber River, heading for the Vatican via the Global Christian Forum.

When Jan Paulsen received his gold medal from the King of Norway, Bishop Kvarme was present to tell how nice it had been for him to be joined by Jan Paulsen at several ecumenical gatherings, as well as having communion together. What kind of communion was that? The point is we were told this by a bishop from a different church denomination, not from our own sources. Our SDA leaders have taken us, as a church denomination, much more into the arms of Rome than we believe! We are only aware of some of the things going on. This is confirmed by the Bible in the book of the prophet Ezekiel, chapter 8.

In Advent Nytt, No. 5, 2016 there is an entire page advertising a new Process conference to take place at the Quality Hotel Expo, Oslo/Fornebu. Included is a booklet detailing those conducting this Process gathering. Almost all are non-SDAs, whose views differ from those of Adventism. These persons will be allowed to use the pulpit, although the General Conference decided that only those who preach in accordance with the beliefs of the Adventists shall be allowed in our pulpits. Preachers of the unvarnished three-angel truth, inside as well as outside the church, will not be granted use of our pulpits. This is double-dealing. Moreover, the SDA Church, SABU and ADRA are sponsoring this event. Have earlier SDA sponsorships of this event involved taking money from the tithe?

Because the leaders of Israel would not humble themselves and confess their sin, and turn away from it, they were punished. That is how things will turn out in the near future, unless the preachers and the leaders gather the people, confessing their sin before the people and before God.

We are in the middle of a final process, meaning we cannot sit on the fence with one foot on either side of it. We are obliged to make definitive decisions, either for or against female preachers, either for or against ecumenism, either for or against becoming dependent upon state subsidies, either for or against… and we could go on.

Reidar Johansen Kvinge writes in Advent Nytt, No. 3, 2016 that the SDA Church has not bound itself to any agreements drawn up outside our denomination that would force us to comply will societal equality. In Ministry Magazine, December 1988, we read the following: "The General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventist, on behalf of the entire denomination, has registered under the United States Trademark Laws the name ‘Seventh-day Adventist’ and a variety of the church’s programs and services."

Because of this, the SDA Church is a commercial enterprise under commercial legislation, just like Coca-Cola…and they have done this voluntary. Included in this legislation is the ANTI-DISCRIMINATORY LAW. Under Section 2C, it says, among other things, this: "It is the policy of the USPTO to prohibit discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation, gender identity and/or status, marital status, and/or political affiliation."

So what will be the next move? Will homosexuals and lesbians be granted positions of importance within the SDA Church? Well, they already have in the Netherlands. They call them "secure churches" or "secure places". In Germany and Belgium they are planning to do the same. On October 9th, 2015, Andrews University, the Lake Union Conference, the North American Division and the SDA Biblical Research Institute published a joint 21-page document on homosexuality. In this document we can read the following: "All persons, including practicing homosexuals, should be made to feel welcome to attend our churches while non-practicing gay persons should be welcome into membership and church office. All should receive spiritual care from the Church (Gal. 6:1)…Gay and lesbian members who choose to, and remain abstinent should be given the opportunity to participate in all church activities including leadership position in the Church…We strongly affirm that homosexual persons have a place in the Seventh-day Adventist Church." (The document is entitled: An Understanding of the Biblical View on Homosexual Practice and Pastoral Care.)

Thus, in complete public view within the SDA movement, the way is paved for homosexuals and lesbians to become members of and fill positions in the church. Had you been expecting this?

In the USA, the Supreme Court has decided that homosexuals and lesbians can be wed in church, so in case the SDA denomination or other churches deny homosexuals and lesbians their rights, the church in question will face heavy fines.

U.S. President Barack Hussain Obama wants all who make a break with their natural gender (transsexuals) to be able to shower with others, irrespective of gender by nature. The Obama Administration issued policies on Friday, May 13th, 2016, according to which they order public schools to allow transgender students (those wishing to cut the ties to their natural gender) the use of bathrooms in line with their gender identity.

On May 13th, 2016, the Department of Justice and Education in the USA also decided the following:

"Schools have a responsibility to provide a safe and nondiscriminatory environment for all students, including transgender students…Title IX’s implementing regulations permit a school to provide sex-segregated restrooms, locker rooms, shower facilities, housing, and athletic teams, as well as single-sex classes under certain circumstances. When a school provides sex-segregated activities and facilities, transgender students must be allowed to participate in such activities and access such facilities consistent with their gender identity." (U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Education, May 13th, 2016).

So now this is coming to fruition in the USA, and the USA is an international trendsetter. Now, what will the SDA Church do in a situation, when boys and girls of all sexual variations are to share bathrooms at school, in church or at university? What are we to do, when boys in church kiss and caress other boys, with the girls doing likewise among themselves? What are we to do, when lesbians and homosexuals or transsexuals want to marry in church? What are we going to do, now that the SDA leadership has decided to abide by the law on discrimination? Had the SDA denomination not bound itself to discriminatory legislation, they could simply have pointed to the Bible. We are to adhere to the Bible, which clearly distances itself from homosexuality and lesbianism and such like conditions.

In Norway, too, we have laws on discrimination. We have in earlier writings, which have been passed to the Union Office, asked whether we have bound ourselves into following these, but have not received any reply. But we are used to that! So we ask again: What about 501C3 which gives the SDA Church tax-exempt status? Does this have any connection to the discriminatory legislation? What about our schools and institutions? Through them, we have tied ourselves to the national and local governments. Does this oblige us to obey discrimination laws? The SDA Church is involved in labour unions. We ask: Does this oblige us obey legislation on discrimination? We would very much like a clear and truthful answer to this from the church leaders, since the SDA President in Norway, Reidar J. Kvinge, says they have not made any agreements forcing us to act according to equality!

The Bible says that those who will receive the seal of God are they who sigh and that cry over the abominations done in the church. In ancient times, the sighing ones had lifted up the word of life. They had admonished, advised and exhorted. Some, who had dishonoured God, turned around and humbled their hearts before Him. But the glory of the Lord had departed from Israel, and although many observed the forms of religion, His power and presence were not there.

But does not Jesus have anything good to say about Laodicea? No; just the opposite. They believe themselves to be rich and in need of nothing, but Jesus reveals that they are poor, blind and naked. Their façade is beautiful, with fine speeches, but of what good is this, when the inside is rotten! First clean the cup inwardly, Jesus says (Matthew 23:25-26). This is the missing ingredient.