“But when the Spirit of truth comes, HE WILL GUIDE YOU TO ALL THE TRUTH; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will make known to you the things that are to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall take of Mine, and shall show it unto you.”
(John 16:13-14)
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“In what I have written, there is an unbroken chain of truth, without a single heretical phrase.”
(E. G. White, Letter 329A, 1905)
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“These books contain clear, honest, and unalterable truth, and they should certainly be appreciated. The instructions they contain are not of human production.”
(Letter H-339, December 26, 1904)
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“When I wrote these precious books, if I hesitated, I was given the very word I wanted to express the idea.
(Selected Messages, vol. 3, pp. 51, 52)
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“I depend on the Spirit of the Lord both to relate or write the vision and to have it.”
(Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2, p. 293)
“Not to oppose the ERROR is to APPROVE IT.
Not to defend THE TRUTH is TO DENY IT.”
Martin Luther (1483-1546)
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“God wants the testing truth to stand out in front and become a subject of examination and discussion, even if it is because of the contempt imposed upon it. The spirits must be agitated. Every controversy, every opprobrium, and every slander will be to God the means of provoking investigation and awakening minds that would otherwise slumber.
Jewels of Testimonies, Volume 2 p. 153
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“Our message must be as direct as John’s was. He censured kings for their iniquity. He condemned Herod’s adultery. Though his life was in danger, the truth did not mute on his lips. And the work we do at this time must be equally faithful…
God’s cause has been harmed by inconsequential men who act in it, and the sooner they are set apart, the better it will be…
God calls men of unfailing faithfulness. It has no place in an emergency situation for two-faced men. He wants men capable of placing their hand on a wrong job and saying: “This is not in accordance with the will of God”….
In these final days a work like that of John the Baptist must also be carried out, and a message like his must be preached. The Lord has been giving messages to his people through the instruments he has chosen, and he wants everyone to pay attention to the warnings and admonitions he sends. The message that preceded the ministry of the Son of God was: Repent, publicans; repent, Pharisees and Sadducees; “for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 3:2. Our message should not be one of “peace and security. 1 Thessalonians 5:3. As a people who believe in Christ’s soon return, we have a work to do, and a message to proclaim, “Prepare to come to meet your God. Amos 4:12. We must raise the standards and preach the third angel’s message, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Selected Messages, Volume 2, 171-173
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About the testimonies, nothing is ignored, nothing is set aside. However, time and place must be taken into account. Nothing should be done outside of its time. Some matters must be withheld because some people would make improper use of the light given. Every jot and tittle is essential and must appear at an opportune time. In the past, testimonies were carefully prepared before they were sent for publication. And yet every matter is carefully studied after it is written for the first time.
1MS65
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WILL THERE BE MORE PROPHETS AFTER THE ELLEN WHITE?
We shall have to meet these same false doctrines again. There will be those who will claim to have visions. When God gives you clear evidence that the vision is from Him, you may accept it, but do not accept it on any other evidence; for people are going to be led more and more astray in foreign countries and in America. The Lord wants His people to act like men and women of sense.Ev 610.2
Most startling messages will be borne by men of God’s appointment, messages of a character to warn the people, to arouse them. And while some will be provoked by the warning and led to resist light and evidence, we are to see from this that we are giving the testing message for this time.9T 137.1
The Jews tried to stop the proclamation of the message that had been predicted in the word of God; but prophecy must be fulfilled. The Lord says, “Behold, I send you Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” Somebody is to come in the spirit and power of Elijah, and when he appears, men may say, “You are too earnest, you do not interpret the Scriptures in the proper way. Let me tell you how to teach your message.”RH February 18, 1890, par. 16
I recommend to you, dear reader, the Word of God as the rule of your faith and practice. By that Word we are to be judged. God has, in that Word, promised to give visions in the ” last days ” ; not for a new rule of faith, but for the comfort of His people, and to correct those who err from Bible truth. Thus God dealt with Peter when He was about to send him to preach to the Gentiles. (Acts 10.).EW 78.1
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Here is a test, and, Brother G, you can apply it if you will. You need not go in uncertainty and doubt. Satan is at hand to suggest a variety of doubts, but if you will open your eyes in faith you will find sufficient evidence for belief. But God will never remove from any man all causes for doubts. Those who love to dwell in the atmosphere of doubt and questioning unbelief can have the unenviable privilege. God gives sufficient evidence for the candid mind to believe; but he who turns from the weight of evidence because there are a few things which he cannot make plain to his finite understanding will be left in the cold, chilling atmosphere of unbelief and questioning doubts, and will make shipwreck of faith. 4T 232.1
God is either teaching His church, reproving their wrongs and strengthening their faith, or He is not. This work is of God, or it is not. God does nothing in partnership with Satan. My work for the past thirty years bears the stamp of God or the stamp of the enemy. There is no halfway work in the matter. The Testimonies are of the Spirit of God, or of the devil. In arraying yourself against the servants of God you are doing a work either for God or for the devil. “By their fruits ye shall know them.” What stamp does your work bear? It will pay to look critically at the result of your course.4T 229.2
The lips that have uttered perverse things of God’s delegated servants and have scorned the message they have borne, have put darkness for light, and light for darkness. Instead of watching, as did the Pharisees, for something to condemn in the message or the messengers, something to scoff at and deride, had they opened their hearts to the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, they would have been offering grateful praise rather than watching for something which they could misinterpret or twist so as to find fault with. O, when the first ray of light shone upon them, if they had only praised God that the heaven – sent message was truth, then more and clearer light would have shone into the chambers of the mind and into the soul – temple.Lt31a-1894.38
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On the morning of October 23, 1879, about two o’clock, the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and I contemplated scenes from the coming trial. I lack the words to adequately describe things that passed before me and the effect they had on my spirit.
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The great day of the execution of God’s judgment seemed to have come. Ten thousand times ten thousand were gathered before a great throne, upon which sat a person of majestic appearance. In front of him were several books and on the covers of each of them were written in letters of gold like flames of fire The ledger of heaven. One of these books, which contained the names of those who claim to believe in the truth, was opened then. Immediately I lost sight of the countless millions that surrounded the throne and my attention was devoted only to those who profess to be children of light and truth. As these people were named one after the other, and they were mentioned their good deeds, their faces were illuminated with a holy joy that was reflected in all directions.
But this didn’t seem to be what most impressed my spirit. Another book was opened in which were written the sins of those who profess the truth. Under the heading of selfishness came all other sins. There were also headings in each column, and underneath them, next to each name, were recorded in their respective columns the lesser sins.
Under greed came lying, stealing, theft, fraud, and greed; under ambition came the
pride and extravagance; jealousy headed the list of malice, envy and hatred; and the intemperance, another long list of terrible crimes, such as (378) lasciviousness, adultery, complacency of animal passions, etc. As I contemplated this I was overwhelmed with unspeakable anguish, and I exclaimed:
“Who can be saved?
Who can be justified before God, whose garments are on His face?
Who is without blemish in the sight of a pure and holy God?”
As the holy Being on the throne slowly leafed through the pages of the general ledger and its Their eyes rested for a moment on people, their gaze seemed to penetrate like fire to their very souls and at that moment all the words and actions of their lives passed in front of their men. At first, as they surrounded the throne, they appeared to be neglectful indifference. But how changed they were! The sensation of and instead there was unspeakable terror. But how changed they were! The sensation of and instead there was unspeakable terror. Every soul felt a prey of terror, lest it should be found among what was found to be lacking. Every eye was fixed on the face of Him who was seated
on the throne; and as their scrutinizing eyes solemnly wandered the company, the hearts
they trembled because they felt condemned without a word being spoken. With anguish in the soul, each one declared his own guilt, and in a terribly vivid way they saw that by sinning they had discarded the precious gift of eternal life.
A class of people was noted for hindering the sowing. As the scrutinizing eye
of the judge rested upon them, their sins and negligence were revealed to them distinctly. With pale, trembling lips they recognized that they had betrayed their holy commission. They had received warnings
and privileges, but they hadn’t listened to them or taken advantage of them. They could see now that they had boasted
too much of God’s mercy. In truth, they did not have to make confessions like those of the vile
But, like the fig tree, they were cursed because they did not bear fruit, because they did not take advantage of the talents entrusted to them.
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This class had made their self supreme, and had worked only for their interests.
selfish. They were not rich for (379) with God nor had they responded to their rights over them. Although
professed to be servants of Christ, they did not bring him souls. Had God’s cause depended upon their efforts, it would have languished; for they not only retained the resources which God had lent them,
but retained themselves. But now they could see and feel that by showing themselves irresponsible with
the work of God, had been placed on the left. They had had a chance, but they would not
to do what they could and should have done.
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The names of all those who profess the truth were mentioned. Some were rebuked for their unbelief and others for being lazy. They had left others to do the work of the Lord’s vineyard and bear the heaviest responsibilities, while they selfishly served their own.
temporary interest. If they had cultivated the capacity that God had given them, they would have carried faithfully theresponsibilities and would have worked in the interests of the Master. The judge said:
“All will be justified by their faith and judged by their deeds. How vividly then appeared his
negligence, and how prudent the arrangement of God in giving each one a work to do to promote the
and save your fellow men! Each one had to manifest a living faith between his family and his neighborhood,
revealing goodness toward the poor, compassion toward the afflicted, dedicating himself to missionary work, and
helping God’s cause with its resources. But, as in the case of Meroz, God’s curse
fell on them for what they hadn’t done. They had loved the work which brought them the greatest profit in this life; and before their names, in the general ledger dedicated to good works, there was theand I can’t believe the white space.
The words addressed to these people were very solemn: “You are heavy on the scale and have been found wanting. You have neglected the spiritual responsibilities in favor of the activities while your very position of trust made it necessary for you to have wisdom rather than human wisdom and judgment superior to finite judgment. You even needed it to do the mechanical part of your job; And when you separated God and his glory from your work, you departed from his blessing. (380)
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Then the question was asked, “Why did you not wash the garments of your character and whitewash them not in the blood of the Lamb? God sent His Son into the world, not to condemn Him, but that through Him He might be saved. My love for you was more self-sacrificing than the love of a mother. That your dark record of iniquity might be blotted out, and that the cup of salvation might be offered to your lips.
I suffered the death of the cross, bearing the weight and the curse of your guilt. I endured the pains of death and the horrors of the darkness of the tomb to defeat him who had the power of death, to open his prison and to pass through the doors of life. I submitted myself to shame and agony because I loved you with infinite love, and I wanted to return to God’s paradise, to the tree of life, to my lost sheep. You have despised this life of beatitudes which I bought for you at such a high price. You have shunned the shame, opprobrium, and ignominy that your Master bore for you. You have not appreciated the privileges which were placed within your grasp by his death. No you wanted to share in his sufferings, and you cannot now share in his glory”.
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Then these solemn words were spoken: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he that is unclean, let him be unclean still; and he that is righteous, let him do justice still; and he that is holy, let him be sanctified still” (Rev. 22:11). The book was then closed, and the robe of the person sitting on the throne fell, revealing the terrible glory of the Son of God.
TESTIMONY FOR THE CHURCH, vol. 4 – THE JUDGMENT
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“Nothing alarms me more than to see the spirit of disagreement manifested by our brothers. We are on dangerous ground when we cannot unite as Christians and politely examine controversial points. I feel the desire to flee from the place, lest I receive the mold of those who cannot sincerely investigate the doctrines of the Bible. “Those who cannot impartially examine the evidence of a position which differs from their own are not fit to teach in any department of the cause of God.
Ellen G White 1MS 482.
