1 The Church Part 4 2 The Church

The Church The Greek word for church means the called out ones (ejkklhsiva). Called

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as

The truth which Peter had confessed is the foundation of the believer’s faith. (The

The church is God’s fortress, His city of refuge, which He holds in a

God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

The Jewish people cherished the idea that they were the favorites of heaven, and

You think, that those who worship before the saint’s feet, (Revelation 3: 9), will

By this time the 144, 000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their

And I saw a flaming cloud come where Jesus stood. Then Jesus. . .

Christ speaks of the church over which Satan presides as the synagogue of Satan.

But clearer light came with the investigation of the sanctuary question. Now was seen

The mighty shaking has commenced and will go on, and all will be shaken

I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen. I was shown that

The numbers of this company [the faithful] had lessened. Some had been shaken out,

Romanists have persisted in bringing against Protestants the charge of heresy and willful separation

Laying “down the banner of Christ and departing from “the faith which was once

“Our doctrines cannot be changed without changing the nature of the church. Let the

The Lord has declared that the history of the past shall be rehearsed as

True or False, Ellen White wrote: “The Church Appears About to Fall” (Maranatha, p.

Satan will work his miracles to deceive; he will set up his power as

Christ loves His church. He will give all needed help to those who call

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The Church Part 4 2

The Church The Greek word for church means the called out ones (ejkklhsiva). Called out from the world: The collective body of Christians, or of those who profess to believe in Christ, and acknowledge him to be the Savior of mankind. 3

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16: 18) 4

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (Ephesians 5: 1, 2) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5: 25 -27) 5

The truth which Peter had confessed is the foundation of the believer’s faith. (The Desire of Ages, p. 412) Peter had expressed the truth which is the foundation of the church’s faith … (The Desire of Ages, p. 413) 6

The church is God’s fortress, His city of refuge, which He holds in a revolted world. Any betrayal of the church is treachery to Him who has bought mankind with the blood of His only-begotten Son. (Acts of the Apostles, p. 11) 7

God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments. (The Upward Look, p. 315) 8

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6: 10) The Church should be a heaven on earth. 9

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day [of atonement] approaching. (Hebrews 10: 24, 25) “Church” is not for what I can get out of it, though we do, it is for what we can put into it for others. 10

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6: 10) The Church should be a heaven on earth. 11

Physical birth: 12

Does not equal spiritual birth! 13

The Jewish people cherished the idea that they were the favorites of heaven, and that they were always to be exalted as the church of God. They were the children of Abraham, they declared, and so firm did the foundation of their prosperity seem to them that they defied earth and heaven to dispossess them of their rights. But by lives of unfaithfulness they were preparing for the condemnation of heaven and for separation from God. (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 294) Sound like anyone you know? 14

Synagogue of Satan 15

Philadelphia Church 16

You think, that those who worship before the saint’s feet, (Revelation 3: 9), will at last be saved. Here I must differ with you; for God shew me that this class were professed Adventists, who had fallen away, and “crucified to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. ” And in the “hour of temptation, ” which is yet to come, to show out every one’s true character, they will know that they are forever lost; and overwhelmed with anguish of spirit, they will bow at the saint’s feet. (A Word to the Little Flock, p. 12, response to Eli Curtis) 17

By this time the 144, 000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads was written, God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious Star containing Jesus’ new name. [Revelation 3: 12. ] At our happy, holy state the wicked were enraged, and would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust us in prison, when we would stretch forth the hand in the name of the Lord, and the wicked would fall helpless to the ground. Then it was that the synagogue of Satan knew that God had loved us who could wash one another’s feet, and salute the holy brethren with a holy kiss, and they worshipped at our feet. (A Word to the Little Flock, pp. 14, 15) 18

And I saw a flaming cloud come where Jesus stood. Then Jesus. . . took His place on the cloud which carried Him to the East, where it first appeared to the saints on earth—a small black cloud which was the sign of the Son of man. While the cloud was passing from the Holiest to the East, which took a number of days, the synagogue of Satan worshipped at the saints’ feet. (Maranatha, p. 287) 19

Christ speaks of the church over which Satan presides as the synagogue of Satan. Its members are the children of disobedience. They are those who choose to sin, who labor to make void the holy law of God. It is Satan’s work to mingle evil with good, and to remove the distinction between good and evil. Christ would have a church that labors to separate the evil from the good, whose members will not willingly tolerate wrong–doing, but will expel it from the heart and life. (The Review and Herald, December 4, 1900) 20

What About, “No, Eighth church”? 21

Dates may not be exact 22

But clearer light came with the investigation of the sanctuary question. Now was seen the application of those words of Christ in the Revelation, addressed to the church at this very time: “These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth; I know thy works; behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it. ” [Revelation 3: 7, 8. ] Here an open as well as a shut door is brought to view. At the termination of the 2300 prophetic days in 1844, Christ changed his ministration from the holy to the most holy place. (The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, pp. 268, 269) 24

The Shaking 25

The mighty shaking has commenced and will go on, and all will be shaken out who are not willing to take a bold and unyielding stand for the truth, and to sacrifice for God and His cause. (Word to the Little Flock, p. 3, 1847) 26

I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen. I was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the true Witness to the Laodiceans. It will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver of the testimony, and it will lead to him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. This straight testimony some will not bear. They will rise up against it, and this will cause a shaking among God’s people. (Spiritual Gifts, vol. 1, pp. 184, 185, written: 1858) 27

The numbers of this company [the faithful] had lessened. Some had been shaken out, and left by the way. The careless and indifferent who did not join with those who prized victory and salvation enough to agonize, persevere, and plead for it, did not obtain it, and they were left behind in darkness, and their numbers were immediately made up by others taking hold of the truth, and coming into the ranks. Still the evil angels pressed around them, but they could have no power over them. (Spiritual Gifts, vol. 1, p. 186, written: 1858) Text 28

Romanists have persisted in bringing against Protestants the charge of heresy and willful separation from the true church. But these accusations apply rather to themselves. They are the ones who laid down the banner of Christ and departed from “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. ” Jude 3. (The Great Controversy, p. 51) 29

Laying “down the banner of Christ and departing from “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. ” Jude 3 is leaving the “true church. ” 30

“Our doctrines cannot be changed without changing the nature of the church. Let the word go out from this Annual Council that any attempt to tear down the pillars of the faith will be resisted. ” (Adventist Review, November 8, 1979, speech given at Annual Council, Washington, DC, October 1979) Neal C. Wilson 31

The Lord has declared that the history of the past shall be rehearsed as we enter upon the closing work. Every truth that He has given for these last days is to be proclaimed to the world. Every pillar that He has established is to be strengthened. We cannot now step off the foundation that God has established. We cannot now enter into any new organization; for this would mean apostasy from the truth. (Notebook Leaflets, vol. 1, p. 51, 1905, See also Maranatha, p. 203) 32

True or False, Ellen White wrote: “The Church Appears About to Fall” (Maranatha, p. 203) 34

Satan will work his miracles to deceive; he will set up his power as supreme. The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out—the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place. None but those who have been overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony will be found with the loyal and true, without spot or stain of sin, without guile in their mouths. . The remnant that purify their souls by obeying the truth gather strength from the trying process, exhibiting the beauty of holiness amid the surrounding apostasy. (Maranatha, p. 203) Letter 55, 1886. (Written from Basel, Switzerland, to G. I. Butler and S. N. Haskell, December 8, 1886. ) 35

Christ loves His church. He will give all needed help to those who call upon Him for strength for the development of Christlike character. But His love is not weakness. He will not serve with their sins, nor give them prosperity while they continue to follow a wrong course of action. Only through faithful repentance will their sins be forgiven; for God will not cover evil with the robe of His righteousness. He will honor faithful service. He will abundantly bless those who reveal to their fellow–men His justice, mercy, and love. Let those who are engaged in His service walk before Him in true humility, following faithfully in His footsteps, cherishing the holy principles which will live through the eternal ages. Let them in word and action show that they obey the laws which are obeyed in heaven. (The Signs of the Times, November 13, 1901) 37