Messages For God’s People
In proclaiming the truths of the everlasting gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, God’s church on earth today is fulfilling the ancient prophecy, “Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.” Isaiah 27:6. The followers of Jesus, in co-operation with heavenly intelligences, are rapidly occupying the waste places of the earth; and, as the result of their labors, an abundant fruitage of precious souls is developing. Today, as never before, the dissemination of Bible truth by means of a consecrated church is bringing to the sons of men the benefits foreshadowed centuries ago in the promise to Abraham and to all Israel,—to God’s church on earth in every age,—“I will bless thee, ... and thou shalt be a blessing.” Genesis 12:2. –
PK 703
When this church of prophecy—the Seventh-day Adventist church—came into being
in the mid-1800s, a voice was heard among us, saying, “God has shown me in holy
vision.” These were not boasting words, but the utterance of a maiden of
seventeen years who had been called to speak for God. Through seventy years of
faithful ministry that voice was heard, guiding, correcting, instructing. And
that voice is still heard today through the thousands of pages written by the
Lord’s chosen messenger, Ellen G. White.
CCh 10
God chose Israel to reveal His character to men. He desired them to be as wells of salvation in the world. To them were committed the oracles of heaven, the revelation of God’s will. In the early days of Israel the nations of the world, through corrupt practices, had lost the knowledge of God. They had once known Him; but because “they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, ... their foolish heart was darkened.” Romans 1:21. Yet in His mercy God did not blot them out of existence. He purposed to give them an opportunity of again becoming acquainted with Him through His chosen people. Through the teachings of the sacrificial service, Christ was to be uplifted before all nations, and all who would look to Him should live. Christ was the foundation of the Jewish economy. The whole system of types and symbols was a compacted prophecy of the gospel, a presentation in which were bound up the promises of redemption.
AA 14
But the people of Israel lost sight of their high privileges as God’s representatives. They forgot God and failed to fulfill their holy mission. The blessings they received brought no blessing to the world. All their advantages they appropriated for their own glorification. They shut themselves away from the world in order to escape temptation. The restrictions that God had placed upon their association with idolaters as a means of preventing them from conforming to the practices of the heathen, they used to build up a wall of separation between themselves and all other nations. They robbed God of the service He required of them, and they robbed their fellow men of religious guidance and a holy example.
AA 14
In the very time in which we live, the Lord has called His people and has given them a message to bear. He has called them to expose the wickedness of the man of sin who has made the Sunday law a distinctive power, who has thought to change times and laws, and to oppress the people of God who stand firmly to honor Him by keeping the only true Sabbath, the Sabbath creation, as holy unto the Lord.—Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 117, 118
Ev 705
God’s Fearless Messengers—At the present time, when the end of all things earthly is rapidly approaching, Satan is putting forth desperate efforts to ensnare the world. He is devising many plans to occupy minds, and to divert attention from the truths essential to salvation....
Ev 705
Wickedness is reaching a height never before attained, and yet many ministers of the gospel are crying, “Peace and safety.” But God’s faithful messengers are to go steadily forward with their work. Clothed with the panoply of heaven, they are to advance fearlessly and victoriously, never ceasing their warfare until every soul within their reach shall have received the message of truth for this time.—The Acts of the Apostles, 219, 220 (1911).
Ev 705
Has God no living church? He has a church, but it is the church militant, not the church triumphant. We are sorry that there are defective members, that there are tares amid the wheat.... Although there are evils existing in the church, and will be until the end of the world, the church in these last days is to be the light of the world that is polluted and demoralized by sin. The church, enfeebled and defective, needing to be reproved, warned, and counseled, is the only object upon earth upon which Christ bestows His supreme regard.—Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 45, 49 (1893)
LDE 52
The bulwarks of Satan will never triumph. Victory will attend the third angel’s message. As the Captain of the Lord’s host tore down the walls of Jericho, so will the Lord’s commandment-keeping people triumph, and all opposing elements be defeated.—Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 410 (1898)
LDE
It is those who have had the most light that Satan most assiduously seeks to ensnare. He knows that if he can deceive them, they will, under his control, clothe sin with garments of righteousness, and lead many astray.
CCh 324
Many of our people do not realize how firmly the foundation of our faith has
been laid.
Ellen G. White;
It is those who have had the most light that Satan most assiduously seeks to
ensnare. He knows that if he can deceive them, they will, under his control,
clothe sin with garments of righteousness, and lead many astray.
CCh 324
The Firm Foundation of Our Faith
Many of our people do not realize how
firmly the foundation of our faith has been laid. My husband, Elder Joseph Bates, Father
Pierce, [Older brethren among the pioneers are here thus reminiscently referred
to. “Father Pierce” was Stephen Pierce, who served in ministerial and
administrative work in the early days. “Father Andrews” was Edward Andrews, the
father of J. N. Andrews.—Compilers.] Elder [Hiram] Edson, and others who were
keen, noble, and true, were among those who, after the passing of the time in 1844, searched for the truth as
for hidden treasure. I met with them, and we studied and prayed earnestly.
-But the waymarks which have made us
what we are, are to be preserved, and they will be preserved, as God has
signified through His Word and the testimony of His Spirit.-
Often we remained together until late at night, and sometimes through the
entire night, praying for light and studying the Word. Again and again these
brethren came together to study the Bible, in order that they might know its
meaning, and be prepared to teach it with power. When they came to the point in
their study where they said, “We can do nothing more,” the Spirit of the Lord
would come upon me, I would be taken off in vision, and a clear explanation of
the passages we had been studying would be given me, with instruction as to how
we were to labor and teach effectively. Thus light was given that helped us to
understand the scriptures in regard to Christ, His mission, and His priesthood.
A line of truth extending from that time to the time when we shall enter the
city of God, was made plain to me, and I gave to others the instruction that
the Lord had given me.
1SM 206
What influence is it would lead men at this stage of our history to work in an
underhand, powerful way to tear down the foundation of our faith—the foundation
that was laid at the beginning of our work by prayerful study of the Word and
by revelation?
During this whole time I could not understand the reasoning of the brethren. My mind was locked, as it were, and I could not comprehend the meaning of the scriptures we were studying. This was one of the greatest sorrows of my life. I was in this condition of mind until all the principal points of our faith were made clear to our minds, in harmony with the Word of God. The brethren knew that when not in vision, I could not understand these matters, and they accepted as light direct from heaven the revelations given.
1SM 207
For two or three years my mind continued to be locked to an understanding of the Scriptures. In the course of our labors, my husband and I visited Father Andrews, [See note on page 206.] who was suffering intensely with inflammatory rheumatism. We prayed for him. I laid my hands on his head, and said, “Father Andrews, the Lord Jesus maketh thee whole.” He was healed instantly. He got up, and walked about the room, praising God, and saying, “I never saw it on this wise before. Angels of God are in this room.” The glory of the Lord was revealed. Light seemed to shine all through the house, and an angel’s hand was laid upon my head. From that time to this I have been able to understand the Word of God.
1SM 207
What influence is it would lead men at this stage of our history to work in an underhand, powerful way to tear down the foundation of our faith—the foundation that was laid at the beginning of our work by prayerful study of the Word and by revelation? Upon this foundation we have been building for the past fifty years. Do you wonder that when I see the beginning of a work that would remove some of the pillars of our faith, I have something to say? I must obey the command, “Meet it!”...
1SM 207
I must bear the messages of warning that God gives me to bear, and then leave with the Lord the results. I must now present the matter in all its bearings; for the people of God must not be despoiled.
1SM 208
We are God’s commandment-keeping people. For the past fifty years every phase of heresy has been brought to bear upon us, to becloud our minds regarding the teaching of the Word—especially concerning the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, and the message of Heaven for these last days, as given by the angels of the fourteenth chapter of Revelation. Messages of every order and kind have been urged upon Seventh-day Adventists, to take the place of the truth which, point by point, has been sought out by prayerful study, and testified to by the miracle-working power of the Lord. But the waymarks which have made us what we are, are to be preserved, and they will be preserved, as God has signified through His Word and the testimony of His Spirit. He calls upon us to hold firmly, with the grip of faith, to the fundamental principles that are based upon unquestionable authority.
1SM 208
I am instructed to say to Seventh-day Adventists the world over, God has called us as a people to be a peculiar treasure unto Himself. He has appointed that His church on earth shall stand perfectly united in the Spirit and counsel of the Lord of hosts to the end of time.—Selected Messages 2:397 (1908).
LDE 55
I know that the Lord loves His church. It is not to be disorganized or broken up into independent atoms. There is not the least consistency in this; there is not the least evidence that such a thing will be.
Selected
When a church proves unfaithful to the word of the Lord, whatever their position may be, however high and sacred their calling, the Lord can no longer work with them. Others are then chosen to bear important responsibilities. But, if these in turn do not purify their lives from every wrong action, if they do not establish pure and holy principles in all their borders, then the Lord will grievously afflict and humble them and, unless they repent, will remove them from their place and make them a reproach.—Manuscript Releases 14:102 (1903).
LDE 59