SEVEN CHURCHES, FOUR MOVEMENTS

All throughout the history of the people of God we see one repetitive and blessed characteristic. It has been noted quite graphically through time that it is not just a characteristic, however, but more of a necessity. Of course I speak of the heart prodding need to "come out of her my people" to better follow the Lord wherever He may lead.

If we investigate the way the Father led His people out of Babylon in the past three historic movements of His church, we will become better able to discern the will of the Holy Spirit in the fourth and final movement of God�s church.

"I wish to emphasize the fact, that the churches to which John was told to send the instruction given him represent all the churches in our world, and that this revelation to him is to be studied and believed and preached by the Seventh_day Adventist Church today. Christ came personally to John to tell him �the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.� (Rev. 1:11) And He said unto him, �What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches.� (Rev. 1:19) The light was not to be hidden under a bushel.

"In the revelation that Christ gave are linked together in a chain of truth the important messages of warning that are to be given to the world before Christ�s second coming. The last message of mercy is to be proclaimed where it has never yet been heard. The workers are to labor with such self_denial, such self_sacrifice, that the message will be borne to those who have not heard it."¹

The message to the seven churches is, without question, to be proclaimed throughout the ages. Today, being in the time of the last church, we are called to embrace all the messages due to the urgency of the times we live in. It is common knowledge that the devil knows he has but a short time, so he is, in fact, going about the world devouring anyone he can. Never before in the history of the church have we seen such an orchestrated attack on God�s people. Every lesson the enemy has learned in studying the weaknesses of God�s people over the last 6000 years is now being used against us.

Prophecy does not speak of eight churches. These seven prophetic periods spoken of in Revelation chapters two and three indicate what it would take for the Holy Spirit to hone the characters of those "called out ones" into that perfection that was prophesied. This remnant glorifies the Father like no other can. This is that peculiar people, the "remnant of her seed,"² that receive the seal of the Living God.

The movements of God�s people during the time of the seven churches are, of course, those called out of Babylon to "follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth."³ These movements have been realized to be the children of God doing as His perfect will would have them do. Their movements are seen as yet another way to prove Christ Lord and His Truth supreme. For without His hand involved, they would never take a single step in the first place. Where there is no step, there is no movement.

"From age to age Christ had delivered His treasures to the church, and from one generation to another His faithful servants have improved the talents lent them. The gifts that eighteen hundred years ago He placed in the hands of His chosen ministers, the twelve apostles, have descended to His workers in this age. Yet how few of us realize our high privileges, and our true position as ministers of His grace."⁴

Our day is to be no exception. The Lord plainly stated "I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."⁵ He is with us! We mustn�t put a blind eye, or a cold shoulder to the calling we feel pulling at our very souls. To do so would be a lie to our hearts.

"The world is preparing for the last great conflict, nation rising against nation. The vast majority of human beings are taking their stand against God. But in every age the Lord Jesus has had His witnesses�a remnant who trusted in the Word of God. And today, in every place, there are those who hold communion with God. A vital undercurrent of influence is leading them to the light, and when the question comes to them, �Who is on the Lord�s side?� they will take their position for Him. Their characters have been moulded after the divine similitude, because they have read and practised the teachings of His Word."⁶

Before the seven churches came to be, salvation was of the Jews, in fact, this was the church of God.

"God has a church upon the earth, who are His chosen people, who keep His commandments. He is leading, not stray offshoots, not one here and one there, but a people."¹⁸

The Lord has always had a church on earth. The past movements of His Christian church are evidence of the fruit that speaks boldly of the virgin hearts His remnant children have had throughout the ages. Only "whatsoever saith the Lord" can tug at the heart strings of this, His people. Even when those around them seek after the flesh, their only recourse is to go wherever the Lamb leads. Even if this means to forsake family and friends, the remnant must walk with the Lord and do as they are created to do. The elect can do nothing else.

"In the rejection of the ways of God for the ways of men, the downfall of Israel began. Thus also it continued, until the Jewish people became a prey to the very nations whose practices they had chosen to follow.

"As a nation the children of Israel failed of receiving the benefits that God desired to give them. They did not appreciate His purpose or co_operate in its execution. But though individuals and peoples may thus separate themselves from Him, His purpose for those who trust Him is unchanged. �Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever.� (Eccl. 3:14)

"While there are different degrees of development and different manifestations of His power to meet the wants of men in the different ages, God�s work in all time is the same. The Teacher is the same. God�s character and His plan are the same. With Him �is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.� (James 1:17)

"The experiences of Israel were recorded for our instruction. �All these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.� (1 Cor. 10:11) With us, as with Israel of old, success in education depends on fidelity in carrying out the Creator�s plan. Adherence to the principles of God�s word will bring as great blessings to us as it would have brought to the Hebrew people."¹⁹

The loving advice our Lord gives to the Laodicean church plainly speaks of nothing short of true repentance for those trapped in this blindness of mind. No different than the Jewish leaders of Christ�s day, we see the prideful leaders of the Adventist church today rejecting blunt counsel so plainly laid out in the Words of our Lord. Over the years the Lord has sent many of His faithful children to warn those He cares for. But all the warnings have been ignored by most. Even when blunt facts have been brought before their eyes, they have turned away. Probation has most certainly closed on this church, just as probation closed on the Jews as a nation so long ago and the Protestants in 1844. Like then it has closed on the church itself and not on the dear people within it.

When the 490 year prophecy was fulfilled, the Lord called a people out of error and started the Christian movement with those called out ones. Paul actually went into those prophetically closed churches to bring them out. Today, the Lord is doing the very same thing. His children will only go withersoever the Lamb leadeth, and as we are all aware, He would never lead them to embrace open apostasy.

"The vision that Christ presented to John, presenting the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, is to be definitely proclaimed to all nations, people, and tongues. The churches, represented by Babylon, are represented as having fallen from their spiritual state to become a persecuting power against those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. To John this persecuting power is represented as having horns like a lamb, but as speaking like a dragon."²⁰

"If the church of God becomes lukewarm, it does not stand in favour with God any more than do the churches that are represented as having fallen and become the habitation of devils and the hold of every foul spirit and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird."²¹

"The world must not be introduced into the church. And married to the church, forming a bond of unity. Through this means the church will become indeed corrupt and as stated in Revelation, a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.."²²

The state of the Seventh_day Adventist church today is most assuredly Babylon. Every aspect of apostasy and spurious dogma have been embraced by her leaders, and they have done so for decades. A close examination of the following text will lead one to see that this was indeed a prophesied state for this church. The "woman" has now become complacent, and at the same time, the remnant of her seed stands strong.

"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."²³

It is plainly prophesied that the dragon will concentrate his attack and make war on the remnant of her seed, and not the seed itself. Originally the seed of the woman, the main church, held to the law and understood prophecy. Yes, Satan is angry with this church. However, his anger has caused her to bow to him. It is the remnant of her seed that causes him to go to war now, for they will never bow. The Seventh_day Remnant is most assuredly to be those that overcome.

"Although the law of God will be almost universally made void in the world, there will be a remnant of the righteous that will be obedient to God�s requirements. The wrath of the dragon will be directed against the loyal servants of Heaven. Says the prophet, �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. 12:17) We can see from this scripture that it is not the true church of God that makes war with those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. It is the people who make void the law, who place themselves on the side of the dragon, and persecute those who vindicate God�s precepts."²⁴

The dragon went to make war with the remnant of her seed.

Even today, those of us that share truth out of genuine concern for those falling into apostasy, have seen all sorts of evil attributed to our loving acts. Sister White declared this so perfectly, "Ahab regarded Elijah as his enemy because the prophet was faithful to rebuke the king�s secret iniquities. So today the servant of Christ, the reprover of sin, meets with scorn and rebuffs."²⁵

As we know by studying prophecy, the Ecumenical movement we see so prevalent in today�s world, will eventually gather all of Babylon to encamp against the faithful Sabbath Remnant people. We see this in the movements of the Papacy via the one world church, and we see the Christian Coalition acting in concert with Rome to the same end right here in the United States. Soon the day will come when we will see what all the Christians of old saw during times of great persecution. All those that hate truth will surround the globally hated children of the remnant.

It is time to approach our dear brothers and sisters in the Lord to try and share with them the urgency of our day. Sad thing is, this is not an easy row to hoe. Satan has already convinced many of them with the same method of confusion he has used in the past. Many are now embracing the idea that the Seventh_day Adventist church will go through to the end regardless of the fact that there is so much evidence stacked against it exposing it as a sister to fallen Babylon. If they embrace lies how can they be for the Truth? Yet, some will allow open sin to flourish for what they see as the "greater good." This confusion alone should be all that is needed to realize that this is yet another sign proclaiming that the Lord�s hand is indeed involved in this Sabbath Remnant movement.

Looking to the Word one can see the believers faithfully following their Lord to do the work He called them to do. At first we had the Jewish church that had been chosen by the Father to proclaim His Truth to the World. But error was introduced and they were eventually found unworthy of everlasting life. So the Lord�s people came out from among them to labor for the Lord and start the Christian movement. Next we see the church was again infiltrated by error when Roman Catholicism allowed the mixture of Paganism with Christianity. Again the Lord�s people came out of error laboring in the Protestant Reformation. Once again error was embraced and the voice of our Lord was heard by His faithful Adventist people to come out of Babylon to labor for Him. Of course, history recorded this as the Great Advent movement. Finally, today in the eleventh hour, we see the Seventh_day Adventist church embracing error as truth. So the Lord is once again proclaiming to His faithful Remnant to come out from among them and do the work that is so urgent for our day. Can you see the prophetic certainty of these events? Is this not illustrated perfectly in the parable of the workers in the vineyard told by the Lord Jesus Himself?

"For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive."²⁶

The truth is that the true believers separated themselves from the Synagogue of the Jewish nation, that they also stepped away from the Paganism of Roman Catholicism, and that they even stepped out of Protestant error as well. And now we see the Remnant once again going in the only true direction a child of God can go. We can only be led by the Lamb of God. We are not to be defiled by these women (or apostate churches ²⁷). The Lord�s elect cannot be deceived. We must follow wherever He leads! We do so only because we are His sheep, and we most assuredly hear His voice. When the leaders of the church openly embrace error and refuse every warning to repent, the remnant can stand no longer with them. Especially after so much has been done to try and make known to them the apostasy they not only embrace, but encourage.

Are we not a people who understand prophetic jurisprudence? Are we not moved deep within to seek refuge where we can worship in truth as our hearts so deeply desire? The elect cannot stand with error, no more than Satan can stand in truth. It is literally impossible.

Just recently I made a public inquiry regarding "an exodus" out of the Seventh_day Adventist church. I wanted to know if anyone else was seeing it. In a comparatively short time, I have received hundreds of e-mails expressing an agreement on this fact, and seeking counsel on what to do next. People from all over the world are seeking those they can trust to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth with. They are hungry for the truth we share. It is not being proclaimed from their pulpits anymore. No longer are the sheep being fed in these churches. They have left, for there is no place for them in these churches any longer. It is obvious the Lord�s voice is being heard. His children are responding to His call to "come out of her my people."

Keep in mind. His children truly hear His voice. They are definitely coming out. This is not something anyone needs to be convinced of anymore. A mass exodus is being realized around the world. For those of us with global ministries, this truth is repeated daily before our eyes by people from all walks of life. People both inside and outside the church are seeing this clearly.

Those for or against separation agree, there is another movement being seen today! That much is clear. As I said earlier, the Lord�s hand is apparent here. For without His hand involved, God�s followers would never take a single step out of the fallen church. Where there is no step, there is no movement. And there is most assuredly a movement of God�s people this very day. Won�t you become a part of this Remnant Movement?

NOTE 1: Many believe that Philadelphia ended in 1844, but that door which was opened to Philadelphia was the door of the Most Holy Place in Heaven (see 4SOP 268_269). Thus the Philadelphian experience extends past October 22, 1844 until Christ�s work of ministration is ended.

NOTE 2: Christ has left the Adventist movement as well as the SDA church (8T 250) because of apostasy just as He did the Jewish church. (Genesis 49:10, Matthew 21:43, 23:12 _ 24:2; 27:50,51). The Holy Spirit pulls at the hearts of His children to come out of the fallen churches to embrace Him and His truth. (Revelation 3:15_17; 16:9,11; 18:1_5)

1. 1MR 372.

2. Rev. 12:17.

3. Rev. 14:4.

4. 5MR 358.

5. Matt. 28:20.

6. ST 11/23/04.

7. Rev. 2:2,3,6,7.

8. Acts 13:46; 17:6; 18:6.

9. Rev. 2:9,10.

10. Rev. 2:13,17.

11. Rev. 2:24-26.

12. Rev 3:4,5.

13. Rev 7:13-17.

14. Rev. 3:7-13 (see Note 1).

15. Rev 3:14-21.

16. Rev. 10:1-11; 14:6-8 (see Note 2).

17. Rev. 14:10-12,17; 15:2,3.

18. FLB 282.

19. ED 50.

20. TM 117; EV 197.

21. 19MR 176.

22. TM 265.

23. Rev. 12:17.

24. ST 04/22/89.

25. 3SP 12; DA 589.

26. Matt. 20:1-7.

27. See Rev. 14:4.