There is more than one organization of Seventh Day Adventists,we have already learned that there is “God’s organization”, and a “new organization” built by men “built on sand”. Let us look at another prophecy for a moment and see if this is not again confirmed somewhere else in scripture.
Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
It is said of Philadelphia that they have the Father’s name written in their forehead. They also have their destination written in their forehead, the place where ye are come unto the “Church of the firstborn” which is “new Jerusalem”. (Heb 12:22-24) They also receive “crowns” and are commissioned to hold them fast until Jesus comes.(Rev 3:11)
Revelation 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
The 144,000 have very similar characteristics as they stand on Mount Zion. What is Mount Zion? It is the Heavenly Jerusalem. It is also the “church of the firstborn”.
Hebrews 12:22-23 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (23) To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
A
nother Church comes into play in the time of Philadelphia, the time when the open and shut door message of the heavenly sanctuary is given to the world.(Revelation 3:7-9, 11:19). This other Church professes to be the true Church of God, Spiritual Jews.
Revelation 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
These are not Jews at all. This is not “God’s Church”. They are “the synagogue of Satan”.
What does the Spirit of Prophecy say about the Philadelphians?
“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. At our happy, holy state the wicked were enraged, and would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust us into prison, when we would stretch forth the hand in the name of the Lord, and they would fall helpless to the ground. Then it was that the synagogue of Satan knew that God had love us who could wash one another’s feet and salute the brethren with a holy kiss, and they worshiped at our feet.” (EGW Early Writings page15)
She says the 144,000 are Philadelphia. And they were kept through the time of trouble(hour of temptation). .
Synagogue of Satan – Jews who are Not – Professed Adventists
What do the writings of Ellen White say regarding “the synagogue of Satan” the “Jews who say they are and are not” those who “come and worship before thy feet”?
“You think, that those who worship before the saint’s feet, (Rev 3:9), will at last be saved. Here I must differ with you; for God shewed 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.” (EGW A Word to the Little Flock, page 12)
According to the Spirit of Prophecy those who say they are Jews and are not are actually “professed Adventists” or “Adventists who say they are and are not”. They have “crucified…the Son of God afresh” something we will examine in another chapter.
We need to take careful note here.
- These professed Adventists “are not” Adventists according to God.
- Philadelphia is the true Adventist’s who go through the time of trouble(hour of temptation)
- These professed Adventists are not “God’s Church”
- These professed Adventists are “Satan’s Church”(synagogue of Satan)
This Is referring to a Church who says they are Adventists, but are not. Many will continue to call them Adventists, but the best words given to them will be “professed Adventists” or in other words “nominal Adventists”. Nominal means that they bear the name only.
It will be on us to recognize who this “nominal Church” is. In fact it will be extremely important since God say’s it is “the synagogue of Satan”. And we don’t want to call “the synagogue of Satan” “God’s Church”. Nor do we want to go to the Church of Satan for our next meeting.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? (16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Who is this Church of Satan that confess to be Seventh Day Adventist but are not? We have some clues. God has not left us in the dark on this matter. First let us see who God’s Church is. Then we will find that this synagogue of Satan is very distinctly described. God has a message to those within this church.
The Presence of God Alone Constitutes His Church
“To the end of time, the presence of the Spirit is to abide with the true church.” Acts of the Apostles, p. 55
God’s presence is forever in his Church. The presence of God is His Holy Spirit.(Psalm 139:7, 51:11) In an earlier lesson we were shown that God’s Church is “the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”(Eph 1:23). Therefore he must be in the midst of his people by his Holy Spirit. Otherwise without the presence of God it is not his Church.
We also have learned that we are His “spiritual house” His “holy temple”.
2 Corinthians 6:16 …I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people
God’s presence dwells in the midst of His people. He is in them. Here is what the Spirit of Prophecy say’s regarding this Church. God’s presence must be in the midst of them in order for it to be His Church. Notice the following statement from Ellen White that confirms this fact:
“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. “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20). Where Christ is even among the humble few, this is Christ’s church, for the presence of the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute a church” (The Upward Look, p. 315).
Christ is dwelling in their midst by His Holy Spirit. He is manifest in them, His temple, and His living stones. Without the presence of God in the midst it is not “The Church of God”.
Laodicea – God’s Presence NOT in Her Midst
God has a Church and “the presence of the High and Holy One…can alone constitute a Church”. This Church is none other than the Philadelphian Church because this Church is the true Adventist Church of the end, the 144,000. (Revelation 3:9, 14:1), the church of the firstborn, written in heaven.(Heb 12:22, 23)
Another Church however has manifested itself in these last days.
“The church is in the Laodicean state. The presence of God is not in her midst.” (EGW Notebook Leaflets, page 99 MS 166 1898)
Of Laodicea we are told that Christ is on the outside of this Church knocking. The presence of God is not in it.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
There is a call here. It is not come into any man made organization, but to each individual in this Laodicean Church that Christ will dwell in them. Very similar to the call above to have no fellowship with them…come out from among them…and I will dwell in thee, says the Father.(2 Cor 6:14-18).
If the presence of God is not in the Laodicean church, the Laodicean church cannot therefore be God’s Church since “To the end of time, the presence of the Spirit is to abide with the true church.” Acts of the Apostles, p. 55
So if this is not God’s Church, then it could only be “the synagogue of Satan”. Earlier we read that the “synagogue of Satan” was “Jews who say they are and are not”. We also read that these were “professed Adventists”. Ellen White again confirms this fact:
“The message to the Laodiceans is applicable to SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS who have great light and have not walked in the light.” (2 Selected Messages p. 66)
God’s Church walk’s in the light as it receives it. These people have had great light and not walked in it. They cannot truly be “Seventh Day Adventists”. They are only “professed Seventh Day Adventists”. They are again the “Synagogue of Satan”.
Regarding this Laodicean Church, there is one organization, a “new organization…built on sand” as we have read earlier that makes claim to this title ‘Laodicea’. You will find very few who will argue with this claim. Here is their claim:
“Today we hesitate to claim we’re the remnant; but as for Laodicea, that’s us! Us alone!…No other Christian group vies with us for the dubious privilege of being identified with it….claiming exclusive rights to Laodicea is not politically incorrect. So, unchallenged, we’ve become anchored in the view that Seventh-day Adventists are the sole group envisioned in the apocalyptic concept of that term.” (Adventist Review, August 28, 2008, p 5.)
These builders went forth to build their “new organization” on their own foundation(base).
Zec 5:11 And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.
This is the General Conference. Some have believed that Laodicea will be saved. God doesn’t say “I might spue thee out of my mouth” God say’s “I will spue thee out of my mouth”(Revelation 3:16). This church is “professed adventist” who say they are and are not.
In fact Laodicea is likened to the “foolish virgins” in the parable given by Jesus in Matthew 25. Here is what Ms. White say’s regarding Laodicea:
“The state of the church represented by the foolish virgins is also spoken of as the Laodicean state.” (EGW Review and Herald, August, 1890)
The foolish virgins find out at the end that they are lost.
Matthew 25:10-12 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. (11) Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. (12) But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
It will be a dreadful day for Laodicea when they find out it’s “too late”. God forbid that we should remain in this “foolish” condition.
The Glory that Lightens the Earth -The Loud Cry
The message of the loud cry will not be heard by Laodiceans.
Revelation 18:1-4 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. (2) And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. (3) For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. (4) And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
The following solemn message was given by Ellen White to Laodiceans. It tell’s us that they will be blinded to the “glory that lightens the earth” otherwise known as “the loud cry” when it comes:
“The message to the Laodicean church is appropriate to the church of this time. . . . “I will come unto thee quickly and remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” How long shall this warning be resisted? How long shall it be slighted?
Spiritually deadened, humility and childlike faith gone, a mechanical, formal profession of faith has taken the place of love and devotion. Is this mournful condition of things to continue? Is the lamp of God’s love to go out in darkness?
. . The church is like the unproductive tree which, receiving the dew and rain and sunshine, should have produced an abundance of fruit, but on which the divine search discovers nothing but leaves. Solemn thought for our churches! Solemn, indeed for every individual! Marvelous is the patience and forbearance of God; but ‘except thou repent’, it will be exhausted; the churches, our institutions, will go from weakness to weakness, from cold formality to deadness, while they are saying, “I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing.” The True Witness says, “And knowest not that thou are wretched, and miserable, and poor and blind, and naked?” Will they ever see clearly their true condition?
There is to be in the churches a wonderful manifestation of the power of God, but it will not move upon those who have not humbled themselves before the Lord, and opened the doors of the heart by confession and repentance. In the manifestation of that power which lightens the earth with the glory of God, they will see only something which in their blindness they think dangerous, something which will arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it. Because the Lord does not work according to their ideas and expectations, they will oppose the work. “Why,” they say, “should not we know the Spirit of God, when we have been in the work so many years?” – because they did not respond to the warnings, the entreaties of the messages of God, but persistently said, ‘I am rich, and increased with goods and have need of nothing.’ (Review and Herald Extra December 23 , 1890)
To be in a Laodicean state will blind us to the truth regarding the message “Babylon is Fallen” to the truth regarding the message “Come out of her my people”. Satan is going to give a message right before the plagues are poured out. Be careful to ask God for discernment so that you might discern it.
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Next Chapter: 10: Great Danger Before the Plagues are Poured Out
Book: “God’s Church Organization – The House Built on the Rock”
Chapters:
1: The Counterfeit Church Organization and the True Building
2: Reformers on the Church
3: Man Appoints a Head to the Organization
4: Foundation and Pillars of our Faith Changed
5: Deadliest Heresy in Seventh Day Adventism
6: God’s church is not confined to an Earthly organization
7: The True Seed of Abraham
8: The Elijah Message
9: Philadelphia – The 144,000
10: A Great Danger Right Before the Plagues are Poured Out
11: The Principles of Separation
12: Not to go and Listen to Error
13: Abomination and 25 Men A Prophecy by Ezekiel
14: Rebuilding That Which is Fallen – Reorganization
15: Church of the Firstborn – The Name of God’s People
