Sunday Laws Are Coming

https://youtu.be/3nll2mmwStk?is=_pTQDTDGsh9h-AxZ

And the Lord said unto Satan, the Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Zechariah 3:2. Through the plan of salvation, Jesus is breaking Satan’s hold upon the human family and rescuing souls from his power. All the hatred and malignity of the archrebel is stirred as he beholds the evidence of Christ’s supremacy, and with fiendish power and cunning he works to wrest from Him the remnant of the children of men who have accepted His salvation. He leads men into skepticism, causing them to lose confidence in God and to separate from His love; he tempts them to break His law, and then he claims them as his captives and contests the right of Christ to take them from him. He knows that those who seek God earnestly for pardon and grace will obtain it; therefore he presents their sins before them to discourage them. He is constantly seeking occasion against those who are trying to obey God. Even their best and most acceptable services he seeks to make appear corrupt. By countless devices, the most subtle and the most cruel, he endeavors to secure their condemnation. Man cannot meet these charges himself. In his sin-stained garments, confessing his guilt, he stands before God. But Jesus our Advocate presents an effectual plea in behalf of all who by repentance and faith have committed the keeping of their souls to Him. He pleads their cause and vanquishes their accuser by the mighty arguments of Calvary. His perfect obedience to God’s law, even unto the death of the cross, has given Him all power in heaven and in earth, and He claims of His Father mercy and reconciliation for guilty man. To the accuser of His people He declares: “‘The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan.’ These are the purchase of My blood, brands plucked from the burning.” Those who rely upon Him in faith receive the comforting assurance: “Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.” All that have put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness will stand before Him as chosen and faithful and true. Satan has no power to pluck them out of the hand of Christ. Not one soul that in penitence and faith has claimed His protection will Christ permit to pass under the enemy’s power. His word is pledged: “Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.” The promise given to Joshua is made to all: “If thou wilt keep my charge, ... I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.” Angels of God will walk on either side of them, even in this world, and they will stand at last among the angels that surround the throne of God.... We cannot answer the charges of Satan against us. Christ alone can make an effectual plea in our behalf. He is able to silence the accuser with arguments founded not upon our merits, but on His own. [Testimonies for the Church 5:470-472]

It is for lack of such work yesterday that systemic errors exist today. And pray. God can solve large problems with methods that do not tickle his enemies. He may remove persons, deprive them of life or health, or maybe even convert them (as he did for Aaron shortly after the golden calf apostasy). It is for lack of prayers yesterday that systemic errors exist today. And teach. That is what Samuel did when a huge systemic disaster was forming as Israel chose a king. "May I never sin against God by ceasing to pray for you. But I will teach you the good and the right way." It is for lack of teaching yesterday that systemic errors exist today. The summary of all this is that God calls us to form a new faithful body only under the rarest of circumstances, and that is when the former church officially repudiates the present truth and preaches against it. For all other offences, God rejects a generation and asks us to rebuke sin, pray, and teach. - E. W. Prewitt

Apostasy in the Church ⛪️ Church organization is, admittedly, a confusing thing for history buffs and a very simple thing for dittoheads. The key question is, "When is it time to separate and start over?" Set that bar too low and splintering results. Too high? Your sect of latin mass priests will be excommunicated for adhering to tradition more faithfully than the American Pope. Thankfully, a workable and practical rule exists for knowing when to separate. We can know, almost without a doubt, when "another calling out" is in order. But before I explain it, let me set you up and trick you. Suppose that the Babylonians are sinful and rebellious, and are consequently punished by God. And now suppose God's church is likewise "full of sin against the Lord." If they are equally guilty, will they be punished equally? Wait. "For Israel has not been forsaken... of the LORD of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One ....‎ [But] Flee! Get right out of Babylon, each man to deliver his own life: do not be destroyed for her iniquity; for this is the time when Jehovah will punish, when He will reward her as she deserves." -- Jeremiah 51:5-6, adapted. Why is Israel seemingly given a free pass while Babylon is held to account? Because Babylon is built on a foundation of error. No matter how much you revive the members, they will be corrupted by the error underneath. But Israel is built on a foundation of truth. No matter how corrupt the nation becomes, a revival and reformation can bring it back into God's favor (as under Hezekiah, for example). But what if King Saul visits a witch? Ezekiel 20 answers this. Instead of God rejecting the nation for its iniquity, God rejected the generation. And He says to the next generation, "do not do like your fathers." This is exactly what happened when the ten spies gave the bad report. The generation was rejected. And the children were invited to step higher. "But I said to their children in the wilderness, 'Do not walk in the policies of your fathers, and neither follow their ideas of justice, nor corrupt yourselves with their idols." -- Ezekiel 20:18. So, when does God rather start over? (Moses was thrice offered to be the new father of the faithful, to leave the erring sheep to their fate, and to start over. But this was always a test to see if he really loved the sheep. See Numbers 14, 16, 20; Exodus 32.) God starts over when the structure repudiates the present truth openly and publicly. That is when Israel jettisons its foundation. When, for example, the Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah, they became incapable of sharing the present truth. So if the Adventist church followed the Worldwide Church of God by officially repudiating the Sabbath, it would be time to jump ship. But if various persons and leaders act corruptly, enrich themselves, teach terrible doctrines, and entrench themselves in the power structures, that is so historically normal. Such persons should be rebuked to their face. And in some cases, this should be done in a public setting, "before all." 1 Timothy 5:20. And prayers for God to reward them would be in order. And voting them out of office would be a good step. But broadcasting their failures would be demonic. It would sully the reputation of the very church tasked with preaching to the whole world, confusing the potential believers. And like I said, that is demonic. It is just what demons do. So preach against sin? Certainly. But preach to group A about the sins of group A, not about the sins of group B. And seek out erring persons and view them as being limbs out-of-joint (Galatians 6:1) and meekly correct them while carefully resisting temptations to react harshly. But don't rally the disgruntled masses with tales to trigger them. And what about huge systemic problems? Like with colleges and hospitals and corrupt officers in Africa or Asia or the middle east? Wait. Are there not erring brethren closer to you? Work there where your influence counts.

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 all ages of the world there have been men who think they have a work to do for the Lord, and show no respect for those whom the Lord has been using. They do not make right applications of Scripture, they wrest the Scriptures to sustain their own ideas. Whatever may be the claims of those who draw away from the body to proclaim theories of their own invention, they are in Satan’s service, to get up some new device to divert souls from the truth for this time. Beware of those who arise with a great burden to denounce the church. The chosen ones who are standing and breasting the storm of opposition from the world, and are uplifting the downtrodden commandments of God to exalt them as holy and honorable, are indeed the light of the world. How dare mortal man pass his judgment upon them, and call the church a harlot, Babylon, a den of thieves, a cage of every unclean and hateful bird, the habitation of devils, making the nations drunk with the wine of her fornication, confederating with the kings and great men of the earth, waxing rich through the abundance of her delicacies, and proclaiming that her sins have reached unto heaven and God hath remembered her iniquities? Is this the message we have to bear to Seventh-day Adventists? I tell you, no! God has given no man any such message. Let these men humble their hearts before God, and in true contrition repent that they have even for a time stood by the side of the accuser of the brethren who accused them before God day and night.... Supposing this spurious message is the one everyone must hear for this time, “Come out of her, my people,” where shall we go? ... I tell you, my brethren, the Lord has an organized body through whom He will work. There may be more than a score of Judases among them; there may be a rash Peter who will under circumstances of trial deny his Lord; there may be persons represented by John, whom Jesus loved, but he may have a zeal that would destroy men’s lives by calling down fire from heaven upon them to revenge an insult to Christ and to the truth. But the great Teacher seeks to give lessons of instruction to correct these existing evils.—Manuscript 21, June 12, 1893

“Christ-like love places the most favorable construction on the motives and acts of others. It does not needlessly expose their faults; it does not listen eagerly to unfavorable reports, but seeks rather to bring to mind the good qualities of others” (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 319).

The shortness of time is frequently urged as an incentive for seeking righteousness and making Christ our friend. This should not be the great motive with us; for it savours of selfishness. Is it necessary that the terrors of the day of God should be held before us, that we may be compelled to right action through fear? It ought not to be so. Jesus is attractive. He is full of love, mercy, and compassion. He proposes to be our friend, to walk with us through all the rough pathways of life. – {BEcho June 25, 1894 Par. 7}

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised). Hebrews 10:23. It is our privilege, as children of God, to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering. At times the masterly power of temptation seems to tax our will power to the uttermost, and to exercise faith seems utterly contrary to all the evidences of sense or emotion; but our will must be kept on God’s side. We must believe that in Jesus Christ is everlasting strength and efficiency.... Hour by hour we must hold our position triumphantly in God, strong in His strength.... All things are possible to them that believe. Since God is working in you, you can safely set your face as a flint to do His will, and you may trust the Lord perfectly.... You must make a daily, personal consecration of all to God, You must daily renew your covenant to be His wholly and forever. Place no dependence upon changeable feelings, but plant your feet upon the sure platform of the promises of God: Thou hast said it; I believe the promise. This is an intelligent faith. Your feelings will be troubled as you see some pursuing a course contrary to the principles of Christ; trials and tests of faith will come to you; but I entreat you to look only to Jesus, and allow none of these things to harden your heart, or to cause darkness or unbelief. Let nothing cause your faith to fail. Live as in the sight of God. Talk with Jesus as you would speak with a friend. He is ready to help you in the sorest trial; He is with you in the gravest perplexity.... A feeling of assurance is not to be despised; we should praise God for it; but when your feelings are depressed, do not think that God has changed. Praise Him just as much, because you trust in His word, and not in feelings. You have covenanted to walk by faith, not to be controlled by feelings. Feelings vary with circumstances.... Walk before God by faith, and rest fully upon His promises. Jesus says, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20. OHC 124.1-OHC 124.7

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10. Let no one take the limited, narrow position that any of the works of man can help in the least possible way to liquidate the debt of his transgression. This is a fatal deception. If you would understand it, you must ... with humble hearts survey the atonement. This matter is so dimly comprehended that thousands upon thousands claiming to be sons of God are children of the wicked one, because they will depend on their own works. God always demanded good works, the law demands it, but because man placed himself in sin where his good works were valueless, Jesus’ righteousness alone can avail. But are good works of no real value? Is the sinner who commits sin every day with impunity, regarded of God with the same favor as the one who through faith in Christ tries to work in his integrity? The Scripture answers,“We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” In His divine arrangement, through His unmerited favor, the Lord has ordained that good works shall be rewarded. We are accepted through Christ’s merit alone; and the acts of mercy, the deeds of charity, which we perform, are the fruits of faith; and they become a blessing to us; for men are to be rewarded according to their works. It is the fragrance of the merit of Christ that makes our good works acceptable to God, and it is grace that enables us to do the works for which He rewards us. Our works in and of themselves have no merit.... We deserve no thanks from God. We have only done what it was our duty to do, and our works could not have been performed in the strength of our own sinful natures. Christ is able to save to the uttermost.... All that man can possibly do toward his own salvation is to accept the invitation, “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17. No sin can be committed by man for which satisfaction has not been met on Calvary. OHC 122.1-OHC 122.4

An intensity such as never before was seen is taking possession of the world. In amusement, in moneymaking, in the contest for power, in the very struggle for existence, there is a terrible force that engrosses body and mind and soul. In the midst of this maddening rush, God is speaking. He bids us come apart and commune with Him. “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10. Many, even in their seasons of devotion, fail of receiving the blessing of real communion with God. They are in too great haste. With hurried steps they press through the circle of Christ’s loving presence, pausing perhaps a moment within the sacred precincts, but not waiting for counsel. They have no time to remain with the divine Teacher. With their burdens they return to their work. These workers can never attain the highest success until they learn the secret of strength. They must give themselves time to think, to pray, to wait upon God for a renewal of physical, mental, and spiritual power. They need the uplifting influence of His Spirit. Receiving this, they will be quickened by fresh life. The wearied frame and tired brain will be refreshed, the burdened heart will be lightened. Not a pause for a moment in His presence, but personal contact with Christ, to sit down in companionship with Him—this is our need. Happy will it be for the children of our homes and the students of our schools when parents and teachers shall learn in their own lives the precious experience pictured in these words from the Song of Songs: “As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, So is my Beloved among the sons. I sat down under His shadow with great delight, And His fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, And His banner over me was love.” Song of Solomon 2:3, 4. - Education pg. 260, 261