TRO Newsletter "Constrained to Come"

At a time when a great separation is taking place in God's church there is a need to draw close to God. ¹ Strong temptations will come. Our only hope is to be found in the abiding presence of Christ. Many identify the cause of the difficulty in the church to be a division on the doctrinal understanding of the role of women in the church. This is not the problem. Like the teaching of evolution in some or our schools, it is only a symptom of a much deeper problem. ² If we ignore the underlying difficulty, if we do not identify it, then how can it be fixed? Rather than me saying what the problem is, I am going to let the Words of Jesus reveal it.

"Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked... As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." Revelation 3:17, 19.

We are still on this earth because we have not done that which was entrusted to us as a people. We have wandered in the wilderness for much longer than 40 years, but we are now nearing the end. The call for reformation is sounding throughout the church. ³ Many in the valley of decision will choose Jesus. Some in the rebellion will, like the Apostle Paul, awake to see they have been fighting against Christ and turn to be faithful workers in this last great work of preparing for the second coming of Christ.

Deceptions abound. False gospels are being preached from our pulpits, published in our periodicals, and taught in our seminaries. Fernando Canale, Professor of Theology and Philosophy at the Seventh-day-Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University, in his two part series entitled "The Eclipse of Scripture and the Protestantization of the Adventist Mind" has correctly stated that we, as a people, are not standing on the Bible and the Bible only. He has discovered that we have many ministers and teachers that are teaching an "Evangelical gospel". ³ Some are not offended by such a revelation, but God is. Paul, in one of his strongest statements in Scripture, says twice that it is an abomination to bring a false gospel into God's church. "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:8, 9.

We can speak such things knowing that while we have sinned in the midst of great light, God has not forsaken His church. There will come revival and reformation. The Apostle Paul was saved from his life of murder when the grace of God extended to him not only forgiveness, but showered upon his receptive mind great truth. He became one of the greatest pillars in the early church writing most of the New Testament. Let those who speak ill advised words that God's church has been cut off read their Bibles. We have precious promises that our church will be shaken, but will survive to prepare a people to receive Jesus at His soon coming.

It is true that the Valley of Dry Bones spoken of by Ezekiel in chapter 37 is a revelation of the Seventh-day Adventist Church today. But, let the false teacher who says these bones cannot walk, read again what God says. First, that they represent God's church: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts." Ezekiel 37:11. Then the promise to us: "Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army." Verses 4-10.

Some may not be convinced by this one account that we are dead in trespasses and sins or that the church will see revival and reformation, so God gave us another strong rebuke followed by a precious promise. "Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you." Ezekiel 36:22, 23,25.

God will have His witnesses on this earth. We have brought reproach upon our Savior, His Word, and His church. But, He still loves us, even such a one as Saul the persecutor. God is going to sanctify a people in the presence of the heathen and then they will know there is a God. It is the greatest miracle that Divinity can perform, the conversion of a sinner into a saint. Let the false gospels that deny the power of grace cease to be preached in His church.

Knowing that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is represented by Laodicea, the last of the "seven churches" spoken of in Revelation chapter one, we appreciate that Jesus not only rebukes us, but promises us that we may indeed repent of our evil ways. And He offers us the solution to our sin problem. "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; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 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. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Revelation 3:18, 20, 21.

This message must be given in the church. It will accomplish the work of reformation. It will cause a shaking in the church. Some will rise up against it.

"I was shown the people of God, and saw them mightily shaken. Some, with strong faith and agonizing cries, were pleading with God. Their countenances were pale, and marked with deep anxiety, expressive of their internal struggle.....I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen, and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this will cause a shaking among God's people." ⁴

Seldom was heard a discouraging word from Ellen White. She was a great blessing to all around her. But, there was a time when she was greatly depressed. She even wanted to die. The reason? The church had not seen the rival and reformation she expected. It pained her greatly, just as it would Jesus.

"The message to the Laodiceans has not accomplished that zealous repentance among God's people which I expected to see, and my perplexity of mind has been great. Disease seemed to make continual progress upon me, and I thought that I must lie down in the grave. I had no desire to live..." ⁵

Like the promises in Ezekiel, we have a most precious promise given to Ellen White during her trial.

"I was shown that the testimony to the Laodiceans applies to God's people at the present time, and the reason it has not accomplished a greater work is because of the hardness of their hearts. But God has given the message time to do its work. The heart must be purified from sins which have so long shut out Jesus. This fearful message will do its work. When it was first presented, it led to close examination of heart. Sins were confessed, and the people of God were stirred everywhere. Nearly all believed that this message would end in the loud cry of the third angel. But as they failed to see the powerful work accomplished in a short time, many lost the effect of the message. I saw that this message would not accomplish its work in a few short months. It is designed to arouse the people of God, to discover to them their backslidings, and to lead to zealous repentance, that they may be favored with the presence of Jesus, and be fitted for the loud cry of the third angel." ⁶

God has another message for His church, those who today are holding fast their confidence, who will not depart from the faith once delivered unto the saints, who stand amid the moral darkness of these days of corruption. "I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people." Can we not here see the paternal love of God expressed to those who hold fast to the faith in righteousness? The closest relationship exists between God and His people. Not only are we objects of His mercy, His pardoning love; we are more than this. The Lord rejoices over His people. He delights in them. He will beautify all who are serving Him with a whole heart with the Spirit of holiness. He wants to clothe us with righteousness. He loves those who do His will, who express His image. All who are true and faithful are conformed to the image of His Son. In their mouth is found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

The revival has begun. Jesus is pouring clean water upon us. He is breathing out His Spirit upon the dead dry bones of His church. Truth is pouring out upon His people. The glory of God will be seen upon His children amid the darkness that is overshadowing a world soon to perish. His promises are sure! Through the Spirit of God these dead dry bones will arise and become an exceeding great army!!
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1 The Executive Committee of the Southeastern California Conference on March 22, 2012 voted “to remove the term ‘Ordained-Commissioned’ and replace it with the term ‘Ordained’ on all ministerial credentials, regardless of the gender of the credential holder.” http://secc.adventistfaith.org/news_entries/14788

On Thursday, March 8, 2012, the Mid-America Union Executive Committee voted “to support the ordination of women in the Mid-America Union.” Thomas L. Lemon, president of the union stated "We are not aware of any candidates, but at some point, one of our six local conferences may vote to recommend a woman for ordination." "As we do with all such requests, the union committee will then prayerfully evaluate the candidate on her own merits while making its decision." http://outlookmag.org/

On March 27, the Potomac Conference, "according to Dan Jensen, assistant to the Potomac Conference president for communication, it was voted unanimously 'to request the Potomac Conference Standing Articles & Bylaws committee to begin a review process of its bylaws that would enable us to ordain women.'” http://spectrummagazine.org/blog/2012/03/27/potomac-conference-moves-ahead-intention-ordain-women

On April 8, 2012 this statement is published at the Trans-European Divsion web site: "We recognise that while waiting for the World Church to establish the Biblical theology of ordination, there are unions/conferences/missions/fields within the TED where the issues of women’s ordination and their election to leadership positions are matters of ethical integrity and individual conscience which may challenge the church and undermine our sharing of the Adventist message with the vast majority of the population. After consultation with the TED administration and approval by the appropriate church governance body, such unions/conferences/missions/fields may apply parity between male and female pastors on the grounds of the TED’s existing policies and guidelines for ordained/commissioned minister credentials. http://www.ted-adventist.org/features-and-analysis/leadership-and-ordination-of-women

On October 31, 2011, the North American Division voted by secret ballot to allow women to be conference presidents in direct opposition to the General Conference vote to not allow this action. http://news.adventist.org/en/archive/articles/2011/11/01/north-american-adventists-reaffirm-commissioned-ministers-as-conference-mis

On January 21, 2012, North American Division president, Dan Jackson wrote the NAD Executive Committee explaining that their action to make women conference presidents was illegal. The NAD president then wrote "The North American Division and its Unions and Conferences (as local circumstances permit) must become more intentional in the development of pathways to ministry for female pastors. We must also develop intentional methods of mentoring women who can take on
executive leadership positions within our conferences." http://www.adventistchurchconnect.com/site/1/docs/E-60_Update_Letter_Dan_Jackson.pdf

On March 29, 2012 the executive committee of the Southern Union Conference voted to remain in unity with the world church on the subject of the role of women in the church. http://www.southernunion.com/article/299/news-events/women-in-ministry

2 Gary Bradley, biology professor in the Department of Biology of La Sierra University, teaches evolution to his class. Creating Controversy; Inside Higher Ed. September 1, 2009

3 Ted N.C. Wilson, sermon Atlanta General Conference Session, Go Forward; July 03, 2010

4 Fernando Canale; Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, "The Eclipse of Scripture and the Protestantization of the Adventist Mind: Part 2", pg. 112

5 EG White; Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 1, pgs. 180, 181

6 Ibid. 186

7 Ibid. 186