In this issue:
Who is the Holy Spirit
David Clayton
The path of truth and error lies close together, but they
do not overlap. In this article it may seem that I have stepped close
to the line, but I have been careful to go no further than the Bible and
the Testimonies have gone. Please read carefully and you will see that
God has truly given us a privilege which is unspeakably great.
WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
I should like to answer this question directly by describing in my
own words my concept of the Holy Spirit, based on the Bible and the
Spirit of Prophecy writings. I realize that this is not the recommended
way of proving a doctrine. However, I am not seeking at first to prove
what I believe; only to make sure that my ideas are properly understood.
This is why I am using this approach. Afterwards I will give the
inspired basis for my conclusions.
I believe that God is Omnipotent. This means that He has all power.
Without limitations. There is nothing that He cannot do. There is
nothing too hard for Him to accomplish.
I believe that God is Omnipresent. This means that He is at this
moment, and at all moments, literally and personally present everywhere
in the universe. I believe this is true without qualification. He
Himself, personally is here with me in this room as I write, while at
the same moment He is trillions of light years away in space, in His
throne room in heaven.
How can God be here with me, while He is at the same time in heaven?
How can He be said to, “fill heaven and earth?” (Jer. 23:24). Does it
mean that His head is in heaven while His feet are on earth? Obviously
not. What we need to understand is that the form of the Person which
sits on the throne in heaven is not all there is of God. This is just
the form in which God reveals Himself to angels and to men. The wise man
Solomon stated:
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and
heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I
have builded? (1 Ki 8:27)
If the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain God, then
evidently, the part of God which is contained in heaven is not all there
is of God. God Himself is actually the great conscious, living,
presence which fills the entire universe.
I realize that in these days of spiritualism and new age concepts of
God, I need to be very careful about how I describe God. However, I
believe that I am carefully steering within the boundaries of “the
things which are revealed.” (Deut.29:29)
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of
your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. (Acts 17:28)
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Eph. 4:6)
A friend of mine advised me, “be careful how you phrase this when
you put it in print. Folk may accuse you of teaching pantheism.” This is
a caution which I am anxious to heed. However, I believe that while the
difference between pantheism and the truth is as wide as the space
between east and west, yet the terminology of both is sometimes
uncomfortably similar. It is often this way with truth and error. This
is one reason why, when Kellogg began teaching pantheism at the turn of
the century, many persons, including himself, believed that he was
teaching the same thing as Sister White.
There was a point, before time began, when God was all alone in the
universe. Before planets, stars, systems, galaxies or angels were
created, before He brought forth His Son, God existed, all alone. What
was the universe like at that time? I suppose it was an infinite
nothingness. Or was it nothingness? The apostle Paul described the
church as being the body of Christ, “the fulness of Him that filleth all
in all.” (Eph. 1:23) God Himself declares that He “fills heaven and
earth.” (Jer. 23:24) Solomon declared that “heaven and the heaven of
heavens cannot contain thee…” (1 Kings 8:27)
What do these statements mean? My conclusion, as I read these
statements is that God is a Being who literally fills the entire
universe. He always has and always will. It is in Him that “we live and
move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28). Please notice that I am not
speaking of some “universal intelligence,” or “collective
consciousness,” I am not speaking of an ethereal essence or an
unfeeling, impassive presence. I am speaking of a personal, warm, loving
Being who is as much a person as I am a person, but whose powers and
abilities are infinitely greater than mine. One of these abilities is
the capability of being literally in all places at the same time.
Who will dare to say that this is not possible for God? Who will
even suggest that this is not the plain teaching of the Bible?
Some have suggested: “God is everywhere, yes, but it is by means of
His angelic messengers.” Others have stated, “yes, He is everywhere, but
it is by means of another divine being called ‘The Holy Spirit.” Still
others say, “yes, He is everywhere, but it is only His POWER which is
omnipresent. He Himself is limited to His throne in heaven.” (!!) All of
these ideas limit the power of God, and deny the Scriptures.
In John chapter four when Jesus met the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s
well, she asked Him a question which was very important to her but which
showed that she was as ignorant of the nature of God as many people
today are:
Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. (John 4:20)
Her implied question was, “where is the true place of worship?” or,
to rephrase it, “where should we go to find God?” Jesus’ answer was that
henceforth, men would no longer worship in either Jerusalem or that
Samaritan mountain. Why? Because “God is spirit …” (John 4:24). What
does that have to do with anything? Well, when we recognize that God is
spirit, then we will realize that He cannot be limited to one place. Not
to Jerusalem, not to that mountain, not to Jacob’s anointed stone at
Bethel, not to Moses’ burning bush. Wherever we are, God is there (Ps.
139:7,8), therefore we worship Him anywhere and everywhere. This is what
is meant by spiritual worship.
WHO AM I?
Let me ask an important question: Is my body an integral and
essential part of my identity? Please consider this question carefully.
Man was made in the image of God and I would like us to see that
according to the Scriptures, we humans consist of both body and spirit.
(See Ecc. 12:7; Eccl. 3:21; James 2:26; 1 Cor. 5:5; 1 Cor. 2:11; Luke
23:46; Acts 7:59) However, while we may, and will one day change bodies,
we will never change spirits!!
Our personal identity is preserved in the resurrection, though not
the same particles of matter or material substance as went into the
grave. The wondrous works of God are a mystery to man. The spirit, the
character of man, is returned to God, there to be preserved. In the
resurrection every man will have his own character. God in His own time
will call forth the dead, giving again the breath of life, and bidding
the dry bones live. The same form will come forth, but it will be free
from disease and every defect. It lives again bearing the same
individuality of features, so that friend will recognize friend. There
is no law of God in nature which shows that God gives back the same
identical particles of matter which composed the body before death. God
shall give the righteous dead a body that will please Him.
(Maranatha-PG- 301)
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the
kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption
Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall
all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on
incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Cor 15:50-53)
What this tells me is that the real me is my spirit. My body is just
basically the house in which I live. Granted, the spirit cannot exist
in a conscious state while separated from the body except God performs a
miracle (2 Cor 12:2). However, all that makes me, ME, my memories, my
thoughts, my being, are contained in my spirit. In other words, my
spirit is my identity.
This is also true with God. God’s true state is a spirit who has the
capability of being in all places at the same time. Though He has
revealed Himself to His creation in a bodily form, sitting on a throne
in one specific location in the universe, we should not think that this
is all there is of God. “The heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain
thee …” is what Solomon stated. Yet the heavens do contain His bodily
form. This bodily form is confined to one location, sitting on a throne
in the judgement hall of the heavenly sanctuary. Yet at the same time,
in one free, effortless act, God is everywhere else in the universe. In
His real identity, which is His Spirit, He is in all places, invisible,
but very real and very present.
“The Bible shows us God in His high and holy place, not in a state of
inactivity, not in silence and solitude, but surrounded by ten thousand
times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of holy beings, all
waiting to do His will. Through these messengers He is in active
communication with every part of His dominion. By His Spirit He is
everywhere present. Through the agency of His Spirit and His angels He
ministers to the children of men.” (MH – 417)
The Bible describes our relationship with God and His Son as being
real fellowship. (1 John 1:3). This could not be a reality if we were
dealing with an agent – a third person, or if we only interacting with
the power of god. Fellowship requires personality, real presence, mind
interacting with mind on a personal level.
THREE PERSONALITIES
Ellen White once wrote that there were three living persons in the
godhead. Then, in her own handwriting, she struck out the letter ‘s’ at
the end of the word ‘persons’, and inserted ‘alities’ changing the word
from ‘persons’ to ‘personalities’. What is a personality, as opposed to a
person? A personality is a manifestation of a person. A personality is a
way in which a person expresses or reveals himself. This is why one
person may be said to have a split personality.
Jesus is one manifestation of divinity. He is one person and also
one personality of the godhead. God, on the other hand, manifests
Himself in two ways. He has two personalities. He reveals Himself on two
levels. Firstly, He is a visible, tangible, bodily Being, sitting on a
throne in a specific location in the universe. On the other hand He is
also an invisible, intangible, omnipresent Being who fills all infinity.
One great Being, but two ways of manifesting Himself, so, two
personalities.
WHOSE HOLY SPIRIT?
Inspiration is clear that the Holy Spirit is the spirit, the life, the
person of God, and as we are told in Eph. 4:4-6, there is only one
Spirit. How is it then, that the Holy Spirit is often referred to as the
‘spirit of Christ?’ (Rom.8:9)
God has a quality which is vital to the plan of salvation. This
quality is the ability to unite Himself with the spirit of another
person.
But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. (1 Cor 6:17)
Please read the following quotes very carefully and it will become clear how God’s spirit is also Christ’s spirit:
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Col 2:9)
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; (Col 1:19)
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self …. (John 17:5)
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one …. (John 17:23)
When you or I go out and teach the truth to someone and he is won to
the truth, do you say, “I won the soul,” or do you say, “God won the
soul?” Of course we say, “God won the soul,” don’t we? Why do we say
this? Because we recognize that although our voice was heard, our mouth
spoke, our hands turned the pages of the Bible, yet it was God who was
doing the work through us. God did it, but He did it through us. In the
same way, Jesus created all things (John 1:3; Col. 1:16), but it was
really God in Him that did it (Eph. 3:9). Therefore God is really the
One who created all things (Rev. 4:11). He is the source of all power
and all being.
All things Christ received from God, but He took to give. So in the
heavenly courts, in His ministry for all created beings; through the
beloved Son, the Father’s life flows out to all; through the Son it
returns, in praise and joyous service, a tide of love, to the great
Source of all. And thus through Christ the circuit of beneficence is
complete, representing the character of the great Giver, the law of
life. (DA-21)
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four
beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been
slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of
God sent forth into all the earth. (Rev 5:6)
We see then that it is the spirit, the power, the life of God, but
working through Christ, uniting with His spirit, which comes to us as
both the spirit of God and of Christ. Then when that same Spirit
indwells me and works through me it is the work of God, Jesus and
myself. All three spirits united in one. “I in them, and thou in me,
that they may be made perfect in one …. (John 17:23)”
When this truth is properly understood and appreciated it will make a
great change in the religious experience of those who receive it. The
apostles were filled with the wonder of the truth that God Himself had
literally come to live within men. They strove to make their hearers
understand the wonder of it all. They knew that no one could really
understand what God had done through His Son, by His spirit without
being filled with joy and being filled with the motivation and the power
to overcome all sin.
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which
is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1 Cor 6:19)
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also
may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the
Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3)
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the
earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I
saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that
sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. (Rev 5:13)
What Does It Mean To Be Orthodox?
By Allen Stump
Reprinted from “Old Paths” December 1996
Today a great deal is said about the need to be orthodox. Orthodox
is defined as, “1. Adhering to the accepted or traditional and
established faith… 2. Adhering to the Christian faith as expressed in
the early Christian ecumenical creeds. 3. Adhering to a commonly
accepted, customary or traditional practice or belief.” (American
Heritage Dictionary) Let us examine the definition of “orthodox” and see
if it comes up to the test of Bible truth.
• First, “orthodox” is that which is “traditional.” When asked why His
disciples transgressed “the tradition of the elders,” Jesus “answered
and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by
your tradition?” (Matthew 15:2, 3) Christ further added, “But in vain
they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
(Matthew 15:9) The Son of God clearly stated that tradition was not a
reliable method of determining truth. The Apostle Paul wrote: “Beware
lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the
tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after
Christ.”(Col. 2:8) Peter continued in this same theme, writing:
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things,
as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition
from your fathers; (1 Peter 1:18)
• Secondly, “orthodox” is considered to be that which has been
established by the “early Christian ecumenical creeds.” A creed is
defined as: “A brief, authoritative, formal statement of religious
beliefs. The word creed comes from the Latin word credo (‘I believe’),
the first word of both the Nicene Creed and the Apostles’
Creed.”(Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary) The term “creed” is not
in the Bible, but God, through His servant, has given us this counsel:
Rome withheld the Bible from the people and required all men to
accept her teachings in its place. It was the work of the Reformation to
restore to men the word of God; but is it not too true that in the
churches of our time men are taught to rest their faith upon their creed
and the teachings of their church rather than on the Scriptures? (The
Great controversy, p. 388)
In the professedly Christian world many turn away from the plain
teachings of the Bible and build up a creed from human speculations and
pleasing fables, and they point to their tower as a way to climb up to
heaven. Men hang with admiration upon the lips of eloquence while it
teaches that the transgressor shall not die, that salvation may be
secured without obedience to the law of God. If the professed followers
of Christ would accept God’s standard, it would bring them into unity;
but so long as human wisdom is exalted above His Holy Word, there will
be divisions and dissension. The existing confusion of conflicting
creeds and sects is fitly represented by the term “Babylon,” which
prophecy (Revelation 14:8; 18:2) applies to the world-loving churches of
the last days. (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 124)
The Bible, and the Bible alone, is to be our creed, the sole bond of
union; all who bow to this Holy Word will be in harmony. Our own views
and ideas must not control our efforts. Man is fallible, but God’s Word
is infallible. Instead of wrangling with one another, let men exalt the
Lord. Let us meet all opposition as did our Master, saying, “It is
written.” Let us lift up the banner on which is inscribed, The Bible our
rule of faith and discipline.-(The Review and Herald, Dec. 15, 1885 –
emphasis supplied. See also 1 SM, p. 416)
The early Adventists were very careful to steer away from creeds.
During an organizational meeting on October 5, 1861, J. N. Loughborough
outlined the five steps of apostasy, of which he noted the formation of a
creed as the first or foundation step.
The first step of apostasy is to get up a creed, telling us what we
shall believe. The second is, to make that creed a test of fellowship.
The third is to try members by that creed. The fourth to denounce as
heretics those who do not believe that creed. And, fifth, to commence
persecution against such. (The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, October
8, 1861 – For a more complete outline, see the reprint “Five Steps to
Apostasy,” page 4.)
•Thirdly, “orthodox” is that which is “commonly accepted.” In other
words, the voice of the majority. However, the record is clear that as
far as matters of faith and practice are concerned, the majority of
humanity has always been in error. The Bible portrays God’s last day
saints as a “little flock” compared to the apostate churches. (Luke
12:32) The Scripture declares that “all the world wondered after the
beast.” (Rev. 13:3) Jesus said, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord,
Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out
devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I
profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity.” (Matt. 7:22, 23)
The experience of the twelve men sent to spy out the land of Canaan
well illustrates the principle that the majority is usually wrong. The
majority, eighty-three percent, brought back a wicked report. It was the
majority that nailed Jesus to the cross. However, our courage is
strengthened when we realize that while the majority of humanity is on
the track of error; all the heavenly hosts are in perfect unity with
God. We should pray that God will open our eyes just as He opened the
eyes of Elisha’s servant when the Syrians had surrounded Dothan. (See 2
Kings 6)
The Bible is Left Out
In reviewing the definition of “orthodox” it should be noted that
nothing about the Bible is mentioned. The teachings of Scripture are not
considered the criteria for “orthodox.” Instead, “traditional” beliefs,
based upon the “ecumenical creed” and “commonly accepted, customary or
traditional” practices are the paradigm for “orthodox.” Ellen G. White
certainly accepted no such axiom. This standard can hardly be acceptable
to the Christian who stands on the Bible and the Bible alone. She
wrote:
But God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and
the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all
reforms. The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science, the
creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and
discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the
majority—not one nor all of these should be regarded as evidence for or
against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine or
precept, we should demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord” in its support.
(Great Controversy, p. 595 – emphasis supplied)
A study of the writings of Ellen G. White reveals that she did not
use the concept of “orthodox” in a favorable light. In fact, it was the
“orthodox” ministers from the “orthodox” churches that attacked the
Seventh-day Adventists and their message.
The orthodox churches used every means to prevent the belief in
Christ’s soon coming from spreading. (Life Sketches, p. 59, 1915 ed. –
Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 54)
From the beginning of my work, I have been pursued by hatred,
reproach, and falsehood. Base imputations and slanderous reports have
been greedily gathered up and widely circulated by the rebellious, the
formalist, and the fanatic. There are ministers of the so-called
orthodox churches traveling from place to place to war against
Seventh-day Adventists, and they make Mrs. White their textbook. The
scoffers of the last days are led on by these ministers professing to be
God’s watchmen. (Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 69)
The attack of “orthodox” ministers and churches upon God’s people is
not a new plan, but one that has been in progress since ancient times.
It is based on human fear and weakness. The carnal mind is insecure and
does not wish to be thought of as being outside the norm. Satan used
this plan well to prevent the people from hearing Jesus and he continues
this plan to our day.
When Christ was upon earth, frowning priests and angry rulers
threatened the people with exclusion from the synagogue, and thus kept
many from hearing the great Teacher. To-day the so-called “orthodox”
ministers by similar threats deter their hearers from listening to the
words of Christ’s ambassadors. Many fear even to study the word of God
for themselves, lest they shall be convinced. Young persons who find no
attractions in the Bible, and who have never searched its pages, will,
parrot-like, repeat the sayings of opposers to the truth. They imagine
that it savors of manly independence to talk of having a mind of their
own, when in fact they merely echo the opinions and sentiments of
others. What the minister says in the desk, against the truth, is
greedily devoured by those who love to have it so, and his assumptions,
though wholly destitute of Scripture proof, are repeated as conclusive
evidence. (Signs of the Times, March 16, 1882)
The contrast between the “orthodox” ministers and the sincere seeker
of truth is well presented in the previous statement. The “orthodox”
preacher stands on the sinking sand of “opinions and sentiments,” while
“Christ’s ambassadors” stand on the firm platform of Scripture truth. As
noted in the prior statement, the times of Christ show great similarity
to our day.
From its earliest years the Jewish child was surrounded with the
requirements of the rabbis. Rigid rules were prescribed for every act,
down to the smallest details of life. Under the synagogue teachers the
youth were instructed in the countless regulations which as orthodox
Israelites they were expected to observe. But Jesus did not interest
Himself in these matters. From childhood He acted independently of the
rabbinical laws. The Scriptures of the Old Testament were His constant
study, and the words, “Thus saith the Lord,” were ever upon His lips.
(Desire of Ages, p. 84 – emphasis supplied)
Jesus, “the way, the truth, and the life,” was not concerned with
what was “orthodox,” but rather with what the Scriptures said. If He is
our example in all things, then why are so many of His professed
followers interested in being “orthodox”? God has never required His
people to accept the traditions of men to receive His approbation. In
fact, God’s ideal has been for them to be a separate people. “For from
the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the
people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.”
(Numbers 23:9) “And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy,
and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.” (Lev.
20:26)
The Trinity is “Orthodox”
No doctrine of the Christian faith is supposed to be more orthodox
than the Trinity. Let us examine it and see if it is really “orthodox”
as its defenders claim.
• First, is the Trinity traditional? Yes, the Trinity doctrine is a
tradition not based upon Scripture. Let us first notice a Catholic
statement printed in an early Review:
“Q. Have you any other way of proving that the Church has power to institute festivals of precept?
“A. Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all
modern religionists agree with her; – she could not have substituted the
observance of Sunday the first day of the week, for the observance of
Saturday the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural
authority.”
“Q. Do you observe other necessary truths as taught by the Church, not clearly laid down in Scripture?
“A. The doctrine of the Trinity, a doctrine the knowledge of which is
certainly necessary to salvation, is not explicitly and evidently laid
down in Scripture, in the Protestant sense of private interpretation.”
(Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, August 22, 1854 – Quoted from
Doctrinal Catechism, emphasis supplied.)
A special issue of the Adventist Review devoted to the 27 Fundamentals
yields the following declaration concerning the doctrine of the
Trinity.
While no single scriptural passage states formally the doctrine of the
Trinity, it is assumed as a fact by Bible writers and mentioned several
times.
Only by faith can we accept the existence of the Trinity. (Adventist Review, Vol. 158, No. 31, p. 4 – emphasis supplied)
Therefore, by both Catholic and Protestant admissions, the Trinity is a traditional doctrine not based upon the Scriptures.
•Secondly, was the Trinity established by an “ecumenical creed”? Yes,
the Trinity doctrine was established in the Catholic Councils at Nicæa
(325 A. D.) and Constantinople (381 A. D.). A. T. Jones in his
monumental work, The Two Republics, documents the Council of Nicæa to be
the “Establishment of the Catholic Faith.” (See chapter fourteen.) The
Nicene Creed is the basis for the Trinity doctrine. At this council,
presided over by Constantine, it was the word of man, not God, that set
the standard. “In 325, Constantine played a leading role in the Council
of Nicæa, … he defined orthodoxy.” (Enc. Amer., vol. 7, p. 649) The
Catholic Church openly claims this doctrine, established at a council
ruled over by a despotic tyrant, to be the central pillar of her faith.
The Mystery of the Trinity is the central doctrine of Catholic Faith.
Upon it are based all the other teachings of the Church. (Handbook for
Today’s Catholic, p. 11)
•Thirdly, is the Trinity an “accepted, customary or traditional practice
or belief”? Yes, the Trinity is an accepted belief today and is
essential to be considered an evangelical Christian. The “Basis” of the
World Council of Churches, in part, states the belief in “the one God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” (Constitution of the WCC) While the list
of acceptable doctrines varies among evangelicals, the one doctrine that
must be accepted and believed to be considered a part of the body of
Christ is the Trinity doctrine. The compromises made between the
Seventh-day Adventists and the evangelicals forty years ago could not
have occurred if the doctrine of the Trinity had not been first
accepted.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church was considered a cult for over 100
years because the rest of the Christian world did not consider us to be
orthodox. With the acceptance of the Trinity doctrine after the death of
Ellen G. White, the church put herself in a position to join hands with
evangelicals. However, if we were going to be embraced by the rest of
the world, we had to be willing to accept them. In 1926, the General
Conference Executive Committee voted a statement: Relationship to other
Societies. Part one of that statement declared:
“We recognize every agency that lifts up Christ before men as a part of
the divine plan for the evangelization of the world, and we hold in high
esteem the Christian men and women in other communions who are engaged
in winning souls to Christ.” (Quoted from, So Much in Common, p. 73)
We were sending a message to the nominal churches: if you tone down on
calling us a “cult,” we will tone down on calling you “Babylon.” The
results are clearly seen today. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is
accepted by most evangelicals as a part of the body of Christ; and
we,sadly, have toned down the three angels’ messages.
Israel was not considered “orthodox” by ancient Babylon. Neither
Jesus, nor the Apostles, were considered “orthodox” by the religious
leaders of their day. The Adventist pioneers were not considered
“orthodox” by the nominal churches. If drinking of the wine of mystical
Babylon is necessary to be “orthodox,” then I would rather take my stand
with the unorthodox!
Camp Meetings
The annual camp meeting at copper took place this year, from August
4-8. There were representatives from most of the parishes in Jamaica as
well as from overseas.
The highlight of this camp meeting, for me, was the genuine and
unfeigned atmosphere of brotherly love which prevailed. The fellowship
was very good, and it was with heartfelt regret that we parted from one
another on the morning of August 8.
Each day our souls were stirred by the messages from the various
speakers which inevitably seemed to focus on two themes: The unspeakably
great love of God towards us, manifested in the gift of His Son, and
the urgent need to spread the truth far and wide with all our power and
resources.
One of our main speakers was Pastor Allen Stump who came all the way
from West Virginia. We were blessed, not only by his penetrating and
insightful messages, but were also greatly helped by the counsel and
extra element of discipline which he brought with him. We soon learned
that with Allen around, we needed to operate on American time and not
Jamaican time!
Every person who came contributed something to the overall success of
this camp. Perhaps it was a testimony, perhaps just a cheerful presence.
However, we must make special mention of a few others, apart from
brother Allen whose presence was especially encouraging.
First there was sister Marcia. Before she came to the camp meeting she
knew none of us. She had come to know me by telephone, but we had never
met. Marcia had responded to an ad which we had placed on TV offering
free copies of a tape and a booklet on the subject of the Mark of The
Beast. (See page 8) After going through these materials, Marcia, like
Paul, “was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.” She immediately
determined that she would no more keep Sunday, but would start observing
God’s Sabbath. Like the woman of Samaria she started to call and visit
all her friends to share her new-found conviction with them. When she
heard about the camp meeting she determined that she would try to come
so she could learn more. By the time she arrived at camp after
travelling many miles, she had already persuaded three of her friends
back home in Westmoreland that they also needed to keep God’s Sabbath.
Her quiet, thoughtful presence at camp was a great encouragement to us
all. No doubt, by the time she returned home she was also sharing the
wonderful truth of the love of God manifested in the gift of His Son.
Secondly, there were Roberto and Larkland. Roberto came all the way
from Puerto Rico, just to be at this camp, while Larkland came all the
way from New Jersey, USA. It was a sacrifice for them to get here, but
their presence and their testimonies were truly a blessing to us all,
and we are thankful to our Father that they were able to come.
Thirdly, I must make special mention of Bynlass, or “Ben” as he is
sometimes called, or “Ringo.” With his dreadlocks wrapped beneath his
tam, Bynlass looked like an unlikely candidate for a camp meeting. Even
more discouraging is the fact that he has been rendered totally blind by
glaucoma and must be led about by the hand. Yet Bynlass was present and
early at every meeting and without his eyes, paid even closer attention
than many who could see! He never stopped smiling, was ever ready to
share a thought or a word of cheer and generally was a great source of
encouragement to all. Let us continue to pray for brother Ben as he
continues to struggle to overcome the one problem which stands in the
way of his enjoying total freedom in Christ – the problem of smoking.
Though he never smoked at camp, “Ben” confessed that he is struggling
with this problem and requested that we pray on his behalf.
Our final word must be of the campsite itself. The brethren who live
at Copper have worked wonders there by the grace of God. They have truly
created a fruitful paradise in the midst of the wilderness. They have
now piped water from the spring to the campsite, fed by gravity. As a
consequence we were able to enjoy showers as well as flush toilets!! No
more need for buckets and the long trek to the spring to fetch water.
Next year is the year 2000. The very thought brings tingles of
anticipation. Who knows what the coming twelve months will bring? But if
things come to a climax next year and we never have another camp
meeting, we can be satisfied with the thought that our last, was one of
the best we have enjoyed.
Frontline
For many weeks now, various ones of the brethren have been
suggesting it and finally we have decided to implement it. Beginning
August 22 we will be launching out on an all-island outreach program.
The plan is to move from town to town, village to village, hamlet to
hamlet holding one meeting in each place and distributing materials to
all who will receive them. Our focus will be twofold: “The Truth About
God,” and “The Mark of The Beast.”
We hope to have these meetings at two week intervals and anticipate
that all the brethren here in Jamaica will be fully involved in this
programme. All can be involved in the house to house visitation and the
distribution of invitations and literature which will accompany each
meeting. We ask each person to prayerfully consider how you can make a
contribution with your talents to this work.
These meetings will be held on Sunday afternoons between the hours
of 2.00 P.M and 7.00 P.M. If we are unable to obtain a building which we
can rent, we will pitch the tent for the day.
As sister Marcia reminded me at the camp meeting, “brother David,
there are many more like me out there. If they hear the truth they will
accept it. I think you people should be doing more to reach them.” I
bowed my head and accepted the rebuke. May we all give our selves, body,
soul and mind to the accomplishment of the task at hand. With a God
such as we serve, we are well able to do it.
Good Results From TV ad. During the
month of July Restoration Ministries placed an ad on CVM Television,
offering a free audio tape and a booklet to all who desired to receive
it. The subject of the tape and the booklet was, “The Mark of The Beast.
This ad was aired 30 times in two weeks and consisted of the message
being flashed on the screen as well as being audibly read by an excited
voice. The response to this ad was good. So far we have received 31 7
requests for the tape and booklet, and more than 7 persons have called
in to say that they will no longer be observing Sunday, but the Sabbath
of the Lord. The message of the ad was as follows:
THE MARK OF THE BEAST
Is it 666? Is it the Microchip? Is it the credit card?
Is it Y2K? WHAT IS IT?
Don’t be deceived. Find out now!!!
Write to :Restoration Ministries
P. O. Box 23, Knockpatrick
Manchester
or call now, 904-7392
see undeniable Bible proofs concerning this matter!
Open Face is published bi-monthly and is sent free to all who desire to receive it.
David Clayton: Editor and Publisher
P. O. Box 23 Knockpatrick
Manchester, Jamaica W.I.
Phone: (876) 904-7392
email: david@restorationministry.com
