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My Lord Delayeth His Coming
Presenter: Leonard Tucker
Location: Internet
Delivery: 2009-12-28
Publication: GreatControversy.org 2010-02-18 18:00Z
Type: Article
URL: http://greatcontroversy.org/gco/rar/tuck-mldhc.php
In 1988 I received a profound message that has changed the direction of my life. These changes are forever changes. I am so thankful to God for the Three Angels Messages which clearly show us where we are in the prophetic time clock. Like many new Adventists, I believed that Jesus was sure to come very soon. Surely He would come in a few short years! Twenty-one years later I have some concerns. Why are we still here?
A careful study of Scripture shows evidence that God did not want us to be shaken by a delay in Christ’s return. In the parable of the ten virgins the bridegroom tarried. In Matthew 24:48 Jesus mentions a delay in His coming and cautions us not to make unwise moves when we perceive a delay.
“But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, my lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken…” In a moment we will take a closer look at this text to see how it applies to the Remnant Church. But for now we should understand that Jesus knew that there would be the perception of a delay in our day.
In recent years I have received great blessings as I have listened to Pastor Stephen Bohr expound on parallels from Old Testament stories that teach spiritual truths about modern spiritual Israel—the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Let’s take a look at an Old Testament story that I believe parallels the delay, along with some unwise moves that the Remnant Church will make during the time of delay.
The story we will look at is the story of God working through Moses to deliver the children of Israel from 400 years of Egyptian bondage. In Exodus chapter 3, God came to speak to Moses through a burning bush. God explains to Moses His plan to work through him to free His people. In chapter 4, Moses, desiring to be free from such a responsibility, complains that he is slow of speech. Then God says something very profound in Exodus 4:14-16:
And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God (emphasis supplied throughout).
This statement makes it clear that Moses was to act in the place of God. This story is recorded as a living parable for our admonition upon whom the end of the world has come. 1 Corinthians 10:11. This whole story parallels the Christian experience. Egypt is symbolic of the world. Pharaoh, as the leader of Egypt, represents Satan. Pharaoh’s soldiers play the role of the demons who are at Satan’s beck and call. The Israelite slaves represent all the people who are slaves to sin and Satan.
And thou shalt be to him instead of God.
Moses is playing the role of Christ in this drama. I say this because the second person of the Godhead, Jesus, in John 8:58 declared Himself to be the “I AM” God that spoke to Moses out of the burning bush.
The Spirit of Prophecy also endorses this idea in the following passage found in Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 480:
Moses was a type of Christ. He himself had declared to Israel, ‘The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken’ (Deuteronomy 18:15).
Aaron is Moses’ spokesman to the people. Since Moses is playing the role of Christ, and God’s church is His spokesperson, Aaron would likely represent the leaders of God’s church, as our leaders are to speak to the church in God’s stead.
As the story progresses we see that God through Moses and Aaron performed miracles, through the ten plagues, to force Pharaoh to release his hold on God’s children. This is representative of the work God does to force Satan to get out of the lives of those whom he has held in bondage to sin. When the children of Israel left Egypt they were led to the sea. Paul helps us to understand what this represents in 1 Corinthians 10:1-4:
Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
It should be clear to us from this passage that going through the sea symbolized Christian baptism.
After passing through the sea the children of Israel spent forty years in the wilderness being tested. Notice also that Christ went into the wilderness after His baptism for forty days. We can read about this in Matthew 4:1-2, “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungerd.”
Jesus’ first temptation was about appetite. He had fasted for forty days and Satan tempted him to turn the stone into bread. Israel’s first temptation was also about appetite. Jesus passed His test. Israel failed theirs.
We as Seventh-day Adventists have also been led into the wilderness to be tested. We are also tested on appetite. Israel had the manna, we have the health message. The testing is being allowed for the purpose of character development. God is testing and developing our characters through sanctification, just as He was testing and developing theirs. He is putting us through the refiner’s fire to remove the dross from the gold. This refining has to take place to fit us for our place in the Promised Land.
After three months of testing in the wilderness, God led Israel to the desert of Sinai and Israel camped before the mount. Exodus 19:1-3.
At this point God gives His laws and His statutes to Moses and Moses relates them to the people. We need to pay close attention to what happens next in Exodus 24:3-8:
And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, all the words which the Lord hath said will we do. And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the Lord. And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, all that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.
What we have just read is how God, through Moses (who is a type of Christ), made a covenant with the children of Israel. Then Moses ratified the covenant with the blood of the offering. The animal’s blood was a symbol of the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world. Remember now, this whole story is a living parable about God’s plan of salvation. What we just read about the ratification of the covenant with the animal’s blood, symbolizes the death of Christ. Christ died and ratified the new covenant with His own blood.
After ratifying the covenant Jesus was buried and then resurrected. After a short time He ascended to heaven with a promise to return. After Moses ratified the covenant he also ascended the mountain of God with a promise to return. Exodus 24:18, “And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.” Here we see the forty days again.
We need to remember at this point that God told Moses at the burning bush that He was to be as God to Aaron. We also discovered that Christ was the person of the Godhead who communicated with Moses. Therefore, Moses was representing Christ. Therefore, Moses’ ascension of the mountain to be shut in with God appears to be an enactment of Jesus ascension to heaven to sit with His Father on the throne, in the Holy Place of the sanctuary, where He was to make intercession for His church. We are also reminded of Moses interceding for the children of Israel over and over again during their wilderness experience, making him their intercessor.
Moses went up the mountain to receive the instructions for the building and service of the sanctuary (Exodus chapters 25-31). Jesus ascended to heaven to be the High Priest of the sanctuary, which the Lord pitched, and not man (Hebrews 8:1-2).
Now we come to a perceived delay in the return of Moses. Let’s read about it in Exodus 32:1-6:
And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And Aaron said unto them, break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. And all the people brake off the golden earrings, which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, to morrow is a feast to the Lord. And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
Up to this point we have seen how the history of Moses, Aaron, the children of Israel and the Exodus, parallels with modern spiritual Israel, God’s church. We have seen how this parallels with the plan of salvation all the way to the ratification of the covenant, which parallels with the crucifixion, and Moses ascension into the mountain to be shut in with God, which parallels to Christ’s ascension into heaven to sit down on His Father’s throne in the Holy Place of the sanctuary. We also just read about the perceived delay in Moses’ return and the apostasy of the children of Israel during that time. What we will now see is that this apparent delay in the return of Moses parallels with the apparent delay in the return of Christ. Unfortunately, we will also see that there is a parallel in the apostasy that took place then, with things that are taking place in God’s Remnant Church today.
Yes, dear friends, we are living in the time of the delay of Christ’s return. Therefore, any parallels would have to apply to the Remnant Church. As painful as it may be for us, we must, if we are ever going to finish this work, look at these things with an open mind.
When the children of Israel became impatient with the delay of the return of Moses, they did the following.
- They went to the spokesperson (Aaron), and had him to make a golden calf to worship. They then claimed that the golden calf was the god who had led them out of Egypt. Take note of what they used to make the calf, jewelry, and who made it for them, Aaron, the leader of their church.
- Aaron, who represents the leader of the church, then builds an altar and makes a proclamation concerning a worship service to take place the next day.
- On the next day they offer burnt offerings and peace offerings.
- Then they sat down to eat and drink.
- Next, they rose up to play.
At this point, I would like to call to your attention a Scripture text that we looked at earlier.
But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, my lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken (Matthew 24:48, 49).
Notice the parallel here with the delay in Jesus’ coming, and eating and drinking. Notice here also that the eating and drinking is with the drunken, and it is one of God’s servants, though he is called an evil servant, who is doing the eating and drinking. We well know that the churches, which constitute Babylon, are depicted as being drunk with the wine of Babylon. See Revelation 17:2. Jesus is telling us that some of us will, during the time of the delay of His second coming, eat and drink with the drunken, those who constitute Babylon.
Christians are to eat the bread of life, and drink the pure doctrines, which are represented by the body and blood of Christ. We symbolize this in our communion services. This text would indicate to us that some of God’s people will partake of the doctrines and worship of the churches, which constitute Babylon, the world’s churches. What about the golden calf? The golden calf was one of the gods which was worshiped in Egypt. Egypt is a prophetic symbol for the world. Therefore, the worship of the golden calf and the eating and drinking with the drunken by Israel would be a parallel of Seventh-day Adventists going to the world’s churches and bringing their doctrines and methods of worship back with them.
When God informed Moses of the apostasy taking place in the camp of the Israelites, Moses descended the mount and returned to the camp. On his trip back he met with Joshua. Just before arriving at the camp they heard noise in the camp.
And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. And he said, it is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear. And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount (Exodus 32:17-19).
Notice here that the children of Israel were involved in the wrong kind of music and dancing. I believe that this would parallel with the Evangelical, contemporary, celebration music that has come into Adventism in recent years. I have been to a number of Adventist churches that have implemented this style of worship in their churches. I have also visited Evangelical churches, and it is obvious that we are copying their style of worship in an attempt to attract new people to our churches. Somehow, we are losing our understanding that these churches are described in Revelation as Babylon. Babylon, according to Revelation 18:2, is under the control of devils.
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.
Is it safe for Adventists to copy the Evangelical giga- and mega- churches’ music, worship styles, and church growth methods? If we allow ourselves to be influenced by their music and worship styles, could it be that we will also be influenced by their doctrines, philosophy, and attitudes?
Several years ago, one of the newly formed contemporary-style Adventist churches conducted the music for the worship hour on a Sabbath morning at camp meeting. I was very surprised as a praise team ascended the platform and began to conduct the music. There was no traditional use of the hymnal. All of the music was projected on the two new screens that had recently been installed. I watched as the congregation seemed to struggle through the music because it was obvious that they were not familiar with the songs. I noticed at the bottom of the screen that the songs were copyrighted by an Evangelical organization. Many of us were shocked to see such a drastic change come in so quickly. It must not have gone too well because the next camp meeting was different. They still projected the music on the screen but used more of the traditional hymns that the constituents were familiar with.
Who was it that formed the golden calf for Israel? It was Aaron, (Moses’ spokesperson). Remember now that Aaron the spokesperson represents the leaders of modern spiritual Israel. Friends, we have become impatient with the delay in Christ’s return and some who lead are forming a golden calf for us by bringing the worship, doctrines, and church growth methods of the world’s churches to us. And many of us are offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, and eating, drinking, singing, dancing, and having a good old time. But, we cannot cast all the blame on leaders. Remember, it was the impatient children of Israel who came to Aaron and asked him to make them gods. I believe our leaders, in many cases are responding to what they believe we want. We all have to accept responsibility for what is taking place in God’s church.
Ellen White makes an interesting statement concerning music and worship just before the close of probation.
The things you have described as taking place in Indiana, the Lord has shown me would take place just before the close of probation. Every uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit never reveals itself in such methods, in such a bedlam of noise. This is an invention of Satan to cover up his ingenious methods for making of none effect the pure, sincere, elevating, ennobling, sanctifying truth for this time. Better never have the worship of God blended with music than to use musical instruments to do the work which last January was represented to me would be brought into our camp meetings. The truth for this time needs nothing of this kind in its work of converting souls. A bedlam of noise shocks the senses and perverts that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. The powers of satanic agencies blend with the din and noise, to have a carnival, and this is termed the Holy Spirit’s working (Selected Messages, vol. 2, p. 36).
Don’t miss the point here. Ellen White was shown by God that just before the close of earth’s probation, a style of music and worship would be brought into our services that would be quite dramatic. Apparently, drums would be a major part of this new music. It is interesting to note that the recent Seventh-day Adventist General Conference Guidelines on Music makes use of the above quote in relation to the proper use of music (See footnote 2 at the following link: www.adventist.org/beliefs/guidelines/music_guidelines.html).
And there is another point we should note. The golden calf was made from jewelry that the children of Israel gave to Aaron. I recently visited an Adventist church which boasts an increase in membership of one hundred baptisms a year over the past several years. This church is known for its use of the contemporary worship style. When I visited the church, the first thing that popped out at me was the jewelry that the members were wearing. I checked to be sure those who were wearing the jewelry were not visitors, and was assured that they were members. The numbers of people wearing long dangling earrings, bracelets, and necklaces was shocking. The music reminded me of the rock music I listened to prior to becoming a Christian. Ellen White tells us that the wearing of jewelry is idolatry; therefore, the acceptance of the wearing of jewelry in the Seventh-day Adventist Church would also represent the bringing in of the golden calf.
I attempted to bring this issue to the attention of some of our leaders recently, assuming that they might not be aware of it, and was told that I should not push “my standards” on everyone else. A member from that church who was there then stated that this church had “two standards,” one for the lay members, and one for the leadership. He then said the leadership was held to a higher standard. It is interesting to note that this man was wearing a big golden wedding band. I kindly told them that these standards were not my standards; these were standards given to us by God in the red books (Spirit of Prophecy).
I am thankful that the current leadership of the Oklahoma Conference has upheld God’s standard regarding the wearing of wedding bands, at least as far as our pastors and conference workers are concerned. What we need is for all of our pastors and other leaders to consistently uphold this same standard in our local churches across the conference.
Let’s look at a few quotes from the pen of inspiration on the wearing of jewelry and wedding bands.
Some have had a burden in regard to the wearing of a marriage ring, feeling that the wives of our ministers should conform to this custom. All this is unnecessary. Let the ministers’ wives have the golden link which binds their souls to Jesus Christ, a pure and holy character, the true love and meekness and godliness that are the fruit borne upon the Christian tree, and their influence will be secure anywhere. The fact that a disregard of the custom occasions remark is no good reason for adopting it. Americans can make their position understood by plainly stating that the custom is not regarded as obligatory in our country. We need not wear the sign, for we are not untrue to our marriage vow, and the wearing of the ring would be no evidence that we were true. I feel deeply over this leavening process which seems to be going on among us, in the conformity to custom and fashion. Not one penny should be spent for a circlet of gold to testify that we are married” (Testimonies to Ministers, p. 180).
Friends, I recognize the fact that it is becoming more and more popular to wear wedding bands in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. But, is popular opinion the criteria for what God’s people should or should not be doing? Should not Inspiration be the criteria for our standards? When we stand before God in the judgment, is popular opinion going to carry any weight as evidence in our behalf?
Christians are not to decorate the person with costly array or expensive ornaments. All this display imparts no value to the character. The Lord desires every converted person to put away the idea that dressing as worldlings dress will give value to his influence. The ornamentation of the person with jewels and luxurious things is a species of idolatry. This needless display reveals a love for those things which are supposed to place a value upon the person. It gives evidence to the world of a heart destitute of the inward adornment. Expensive dress and adornments of jewelry give an incorrect representation of the truth that should always be represented as of the highest value. An over-dressed, outwardly adorned person bears the sign of inward poverty. A lack of spirituality is revealed. . . .
‘If any man will come after Me,’ said Christ, ‘let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’ Self-denial and self-sacrifice will mark the Christian’s life. Evidence that the taste is really converted will be seen in the dress of all who walk the narrow path of holiness, the path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in (Bible Training School, May 1, 1908).
The accession of members who have not been renewed in heart and reformed in life is a source of weakness to the church. This fact is often ignored. Some ministers and churches are so desirous of securing an increase of numbers that they do not bear faithful testimony against unchristian habits and practices. Those who accept the truth are not taught that they cannot safely be worldlings in conduct while they are Christians in name. Heretofore they were Satan’s subjects; henceforth they are to be subjects of Christ. The life must testify to the change of leaders. Public opinion favors a profession of Christianity. Little self-denial or self-sacrifice is required in order to put on a form of godliness and to have one’s name enrolled upon the church book. Hence many join the church without first becoming united to Christ. In this Satan triumphs. Such converts are his most efficient agents. They serve as decoys to other souls. They are false lights, luring the unwary to perdition. It is in vain that men seek to make the Christian’s path broad and pleasant for worldlings. God has not smoothed or widened the rugged, narrow way. If we would enter into life, we must follow the same path which Jesus and His disciples trod—the path of humility, self-denial, and sacrifice (Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 172).
The test of discipleship is not brought to bear as closely as it should be upon those who present themselves for baptism. It should be understood whether they are simply taking the name of Seventh-day Adventists, or whether they are taking their stand on the Lord’s side, to come out from the world and be separate, and touch not the unclean thing. Before baptism, there should be a thorough inquiry as to the experience of the candidates. Let this inquiry be made, not in a cold and distant way, but kindly, tenderly, pointing the new converts to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Bring the requirements of the gospel to bear upon the candidates for baptism.
One of the points upon which those newly come to the faith will need instruction is the subject of dress. Let the new converts be faithfully dealt with. Are they vain in dress? Do they cherish pride of heart? The idolatry of dress is a moral disease. It must not be taken over into the new life. In most cases, submission to the gospel requirements will demand a decided change in the dress (Evangelism, pp. 311, 312).
Only when the Church is composed of pure, unselfish members, can it fulfill God’s purpose. Too much hasty work is done in adding names to the church roll. Serious defects are seen in the characters of some who join the church. Those who admit them say, We will first get them into the church, and then reform them. But this is a mistake. The very first work to be done is the work of reform. Pray with them, talk with them, but do not allow them to unite with God’s people in church relationship until they give decided evidence that the Spirit of God is working on their hearts.
Many of those whose names are registered on the church books are not Christians. They have not a genuine experience (Review and Herald, May 21, 1901).
If you lower the standard in order to secure popularity and an increase of numbers, and then make this increase a cause of rejoicing, you show great blindness. If numbers were evidence of success, Satan might claim the pre-eminence; for, in this world, his followers are largely in the majority. It is the degree of moral power pervading the College, that is a test of its prosperity. It is the virtue, intelligence, and piety of the people composing our churches, not their numbers, that should be a source of joy and thankfulness (Counsels on Education, p. 42) .
When Moses came into the camp, and the children of Israel were singing and dancing, he also found that they were naked. The Bible tells us that Aaron had caused them to be naked.
And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies) (Exodus 32:25).
In Revelation 3:17 the Laodicean church is described as naked. “thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”
There is a parallel here also. Aaron as the spokesperson and leader of God’s church of that day caused the people to be naked. Are the ill-advised decisions of some leaders causing some of the members of modern spiritual Israel to be spiritually naked? A careful study shows Laodicean nakedness to represent the lack of the robe of Christ’s righteousness. In Verse 18, Jesus says to the Laodiceans, “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear.” Ellen White gives us the following counsel in Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, p. 360:
The message to the Laodiceans is applicable to Seventh-day Adventists who have had great light and have not walked in the light. It is those who have made great profession, but have not kept in step with their Leader, that will be spewed out of His mouth unless they repent
Therefore, the experience of the Israelites being in the camp naked would parallel with Seventh-day Adventists who believe they are covered with the robe of Christ’s righteousness and are totally unaware of their spiritual nakedness. The Adventist pastors who are promoting contemporary music and worship styles and church growth methods, and are lowering the standards and baptizing people who are unconverted and still wearing their jewelry, though they may sincerely believe they are doing a good thing for the cause of Christ, though they may be ignorant of the damage they are causing, are hurting God’s church. Their actions would parallel with the actions of Aaron, who was the leader of the church of his day.
Dear friends, perhaps by this point some of you might be tempted to think that this article is an attack on God’s church and its leaders. I want to assure you that this is not my intention at all. I love God’s church and I consider some of the leaders my dearest friends. I am heartbroken as I see that some of them have been deceived by these things. I have been pleading with God for their souls and will continue to do so. The message to the Laodiceans is not a message of condemnation, it is a message of love. Jesus says in Revelation 3:19, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” This article is also a loving call to repentance.
I would also like to point out the fact that I have intentionally used the word “some” when writing about our leaders who are involved in the things mentioned. Some of our leaders are involved, but not all of our leaders by any means. We have enclosed a DVD by Pastor Stephen Bohr titled, “Worship at Satan’s Throne,” in which Pastor Bohr expresses his concerns about these things as well. He offers a book by the same title that I strongly recommend.
Samuel Koranteng-Pipim edited a book titled, Here We Stand. In this book a number of Adventist pastors and Bible scholars express their concerns about these things. Names like Richard W. O’Ffill, C.D. Brooks, Ronald A.G. du Preez, Walter J. Veith, C. Mervyn Maxwell, Mark Finley, Doug Batchelor, and others are included. The sub-title of the book reads, “Evaluating New Trends in The Church.” A union conference president, Thomas Mostert, also wrote a book titled, Hidden Heresy. At the time, Elder Mostert was president of the Pacific Union Conference. Another wonderful book was written by Herbert Edgar Douglass titled, A Fork In The Road, dealing with the Evangelical’s influence in changes in our doctrines beginning in 1956. Dr. Douglas is a veteran warrior and has served God’s church as an editor, college professor, theologian and administrator. He was serving as an editor when he witnessed firsthand the things that he writes about in the book. Dr. Douglas is now employed by Amazing Facts. Dennis Priebe, also employed by Amazing Facts as a revivalist, has been speaking in churches all across North America about these things. You can order his books, DVD’s and CD’s by going online to dennispriebe.com. You will also find free downloads on these topics at that website.
I mentioned earlier about new church growth methods being implemented in the church today. Some of our pastors are being sent to seminars conducted by the leaders of the Evangelical mega-churches and giga-churches. Most Adventists have recently heard the name Rick Warren. Pastor Warren spoke at President Obama’s inauguration. Warren is the pastor of the 22,000 member Saddleback Community Church in Tustin, California. Pastor Rick Warren wrote two books, The Purpose Driven Life, and The Purpose Driven Church. Pastor Thomas Mostert, on page 43 of Hidden Heresy, states the following.
“Hundreds of Adventist churches have joined the thousands of churches around the world in the forty-day spiritual journey through the book The Purpose Driven Life.” Then on the same page he states,
Already, we are seeing the fruitage of Warren’s influence in Adventist churches. Pastors in several conferences have announced that they are no longer going to preach controversial doctrines from the pulpit. They indicate their plan is to become ‘seeker sensitive’ on Sabbath morning. The format will be entertaining because that is what non-members want. The music will be contemporary. Each has indicated to members who object, ‘If you don’t like the new direction, transfer to another church.’ It is not coincidental that these same suggestions can be found on Warren’s website pastors.com.
I recently had a member of the Adventist contemporary church that I visited tell me that three years ago all the members were given Pastor Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life. This member was expressing concern about some of the things that were taking place there and seeking counsel. Yes, this church has been growing at a rate of a hundred members a year. Yes, tithe is up as a result of this growth. Yes, many people are excited about this growth. However, indications are that much of this growth can be attributed to the lowering of church standards, the entertaining worship style, the continental breakfast (a feature of the Saddleback church model), and seeker-sensitive messages.
We must ask ourselves: Is this growth helping or hurting the church? Are we building with gold, silver and precious stones, or are we building with hay and stubble? Are we keeping pace with the light and following the Holy Spirit’s leading or are we walking in a fire of our own kindling? The inspired quotes listed above seem to indicate that we are making serious mistakes. We must also remember the fact that the decisions of a few affect us all. We must stop following our own inclinations and turn back to the counsel of the true witness. We must stop looking at the world’s churches for guidance and do as our founders did. They studied the word of God and prayed for guidance from the One who never errs. God has given us an abundance of divine counsel on church growth. Babylon is the habitation of devils; we need no advice about church growth from them!
God has bestowed upon man great light and many blessings; but unless this light and these blessings are accepted, they are no security against disobedience and apostasy. When those whom God has exalted to positions of high trust turn from Him to human wisdom, their light becomes darkness. Their entrusted capabilities become a snare (Prophets and Kings, p. 83).
When Moses came down the mountain and confronted the children of Israel, he told them that they had to make a choice.
Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him (Exodus 32:26).
When the sons of Levi joined Moses he gave a chilling command.
And he said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men (Exodus 32:27, 28).
I am convinced that there is a parallel to this for modern spiritual Israel. The sword represents the word of God. God is asking each of us, “who is on the Lord’s side?” Do we want to continue our illicit relationship with the daughters of Babylon in their doctrines, church growth methods, worship styles, and music, or do we want to follow the Lord through obeying His counsel given to us in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy? When we make our decision to be on the Lord’s side, God expects us to take our spiritual swords in hand and do battle with our brother, our neighbor and our companion. How wonderful it is that we are living in the spiritual dispensation and this battle is a spiritual battle not to destroy them, but to win their hearts back to the truth. The sword is the Bible. The truth is to be our only weapon.
I would also call your attention to Elijah and his mountain experience. The rain had been withheld from Israel because King Ahab, the leader of Israel, had married the daughter of a heathen king and led the children of Israel into Baal worship.
He took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him” (1 Kings 16:31).
Is God withholding the latter rain from Israel today? Shouldn’t we have received it by now? Are we not in a time of delay? Why are we still here?
We may have to remain here in this world because of insubordination many more years, as did the children of Israel; but for Christ’s sake, His people should not add sin to sin by charging God with the consequence of their own wrong course of action (Evangelism, p. 696).
Elijah also called the children of Israel to make a choice.
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him (1 Kings 18:21).
In each case the apostasy could not continue to be ignored. The people had to make a choice. We must also make our choice today. We must turn away from the daughters of Babylon. Babylon is the habitation of devils. The mega-church, giga-church movement is not of the Lord. It is the counterfeit revival. We must recognize the fact that we are on the borders of the Promised Land and King Balak has influenced the false prophet Balaam to bring a curse upon Israel. The Midianitish women are in the camp and are seducing us into false worship at the grand festival.
After a time Midianitish women began to steal into the camp. Their appearance excited no alarm, and so quietly were their plans conducted that the attention of Moses was not called to the matter. It was the object of these women, in their association with the Hebrews, to seduce them into transgression of the law of God, to draw their attention to heathen rites and customs, and lead them into idolatry. These motives were studiously concealed under the garb of friendship, so that they were not suspected, even by the guardians of the people.
At Balaam’s suggestion, a grand festival in honor of their gods was appointed by the king of Moab, and it was secretly arranged that Balaam should induce the Israelites to attend. He was regarded by them as a prophet of God, and hence had little difficulty in accomplishing his purpose. Great numbers of the people joined him in witnessing the festivities. They ventured upon the forbidden ground, and were entangled in the snare of Satan. Beguiled with music and dancing, and allured by the beauty of heathen vestals, they cast off their fealty to Jehovah. As they united in mirth and feasting, indulgence in wine beclouded their senses and broke down the barriers of self-control. Passion had full sway; and having defiled their consciences by lewdness, they were persuaded to bow down to idols. They offered sacrifice upon heathen altars and participated in the most degrading rites (Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 454, 455).
There are false prophets in the camp inducing us to attend the grand festival. Many of us are beguiled with their music and dancing. Some of God’s people’s minds have become beclouded by eating their bread and drinking their wine. There is a price to be paid for our apostasy. Thousands will fall as a result of the plague. Phinehas must take his javelin and slay the boisterous Zimri and the Midianitish harlot in order to stop the plague from destroying Israel. Brethren, in a spiritual sense, we all represent Phinehas. We must each do our part to lovingly, faithfully sound the alarm in Israel. We must, as they did, fall on our faces before God and confess our sins. We must arm ourselves with the sword of truth (Bible and Spirit of Prophecy) and do battle with the priests of Baal so that the latter rain can come. When we truly experience revival and reformation God will give us the latter rain just as he did in the time of Elijah. When the priests of Baal are no longer in Israel and we receive the latter rain, Jezebel will threaten our lives with a death decree just as Elijah was threatened in his day. But the truth will triumph. God will strengthen His people to finish this work and the great controversy can finally come to an end.
Do we really want church growth? God has given us a formula for that: revival and reformation.
A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work. There must be earnest effort to obtain the blessing of the Lord, not because God is not willing to bestow His blessing upon us, but because we are unprepared to receive it. Our heavenly Father is more willing to give His Holy Spirit to them that ask Him, than are earthly parents to give good gifts to their children. But it is our work, by confession, humiliation, repentance, and earnest prayer, to fulfill the conditions upon which God has promised to grant us His blessing. A revival need be expected only in answer to prayer (Selected Messages, vol. 1, p. 120).
There is nothing that Satan fears so much as that the people of God shall clear the way by removing every hindrance, so that the Lord can pour out His Spirit upon a languishing church and an impenitent congregation. If Satan had his way, there would never be another awakening, great or small, to the end of time. But we are not ignorant of his devices. It is possible to resist his power. When the way is prepared for the Spirit of God, the blessing will come. Satan can no more hinder a shower of blessing from descending upon God’s people than he can close the windows of heaven that rain cannot come upon the earth. . . . We are in the great day of atonement, when our sins are, by confession and repentance, to go beforehand to judgment. God does not now accept a tame, spiritless testimony from His ministers. Such a testimony would not be present truth. The message for this time must be meat in due season to feed the church of God. But Satan has been seeking gradually to rob this message of its power, that the people may not be prepared to stand in the day of the Lord (Selected Messages, vol. 1, p. 124).
True church growth will come when we receive more of the power of the Holy Spirit at the falling of the latter rain. The latter rain will fall when we experience revival and reformation in the church. Until that time God will limit the amount of true growth we experience because His church is not ready to be the example of godliness to the new converts that God requires. He can’t call them out of Babylon until we get ourselves all the way out. We will experience tremendous growth when we experience primitive godliness. Then and only then will God be glorified by calling His people out of Babylon and unite them with His Remnant Church. GCO
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