Has the Seventh-day Adventist Church Become Babylon?

Turning to the Light

God forbid that we should belittle or despise the solemn warnings and reproofs that God has through the years sent to His remnant church. And if, after we have searched our own hearts, we look about us and feel that many seem to be sleeping in carnal security, and our soul is led to cry out because of the abominations that we see in Jerusalem, may our reaction be not to condemn and accuse, but like that of God’s servant who thus pens her experience: SDACBB 6.8

“There are times when a distinct view is presented to me of the condition of the remnant church—a condition of appalling indifference to the needs of a world perishing for lack of knowledge of the truth for this time. Then I have hours, and sometimes days, of intense anguish.

“Many to whom have been committed the saving truths of the third angel’s message fail of realizing that the salvation of souls is dependent upon the consecration and activity of God’s church. Many are using their blessings in the service of self. Oh, how my heart aches because Christ is put to shame by their unChristlike behavior! But after the agony is past, I feel like working harder than ever to arouse them to put forth unselfish effort for the saving of their fellow men.”—Testimonies for the Church 8:24.

If we were to take the position that the message of April 21, 1903, refers to the church as a body; if we were to believe that this is a final decree from Heaven announcing the final departure of the divine Presence, never to return; if we should assume that this is the pronouncement that the church has become Babylon, and that salvation can be assured only by coming “out of her,” then surely we should expect that later Testimonies—if, indeed, any should be sent—would make all this clear. SDACBB 7.1

And just here is where these accusers, who speak in her name after her death, are really bringing accusation against her. For surely, if these monstrous suppositions were truth, Mrs. White herself would, to be in harmony with her message, have left the organization, and all her writings would have confirmed the sentence of doom against her former associates. The fact that nothing of this nature occurred should be sufficient evidence to the candid mind that this modern movement based upon this manifestly false interpretation of a single paragraph is as untimely as was the similar message that sought entrance into the church years ago. SDACBB 7.2

To one who will study the Testimonies, volumes 8 and 9, nearly all of which was written later than 1903, nothing can be clearer than that the Lord still remembered His church in mercy with messages of counsel, warning, and reproof, and also of encouragement and promise. It was in November 1903, seven months later than the paragraph in question was written, that there was given to the church that wonderful message, “A View of the Conflict,” in which “floods of spiritual power” are promised to be poured out upon those prepared to receive it. And the church in its entirety is recognized in the closing appeal. (See Testimonies for the Church 8:41-47.) SDACBB 7.3

“God calls upon every church member to enter His service.... Every addition to the church should be one more agency for the carrying out of the great plan of redemption. The entire church, acting as one, blending in perfect union, is to be a living, active missionary agency, moved and controlled by the Holy Spirit.”—Testimonies for the Church 8:47. SDACBB 7.4

Thus, even to the end of her life, Mrs. White’s burden for the church was not “separation,” but unity. The closing years of her life were rich in counsel and encouragement in connection with the building up of the work and its wider extension. SDACBB 7.5

Perish the thought that God has mocked us by sending such messages to a church years after His divine Presence had been finally withdrawn, and before this modern “reform” movement had arisen! SDACBB 8.1

Instead of dwelling in thought upon the evil course of our brethren, let us rather find light and blessing through faith in God’s power to fulfill His purpose for His people. SDACBB 8.2

As the very climax of evidence that the Lord’s servant, till the very end of her life, regarded the Seventh-day Adventist Church, of which she consistently remained a member, as God’s chosen agency for the giving of light and blessing to the world, we need but refer to her message of greeting addressed to the General Conference in 1913, the last session held during her life. “Courage in the Lord,” is the heading, and “courage” the keyword of the document. SDACBB 8.3

“I have words of encouragement for you, my brethren. We are to move forward in faith and hope, expecting large things from God. The enemy will seek in every way to hinder the efforts that are being made to advance the truth, but in the strength of the Lord you may gain success. Let no discouraging words be spoken, but only such words as will tend to strengthen and sustain your fellow workers.... SDACBB 8.4

“I pray earnestly that the work we do at this time shall impress itself deeply on heart and mind and soul. Perplexities will increase; but let us, as believers in God, encourage one another. Let us not lower the standard, but keep it lifted high, looking to Him who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. When in the night season I am unable to sleep, I lift my heart in prayer to God, and He strengthens me, and gives me the assurance that He is with His ministering servants in the home fields and in distant lands. I am encouraged and blessed as I realize that the God of Israel is still guiding His people, and that He will continue to be with them, even to the end.... SDACBB 8.5

“We are to hold as very sacred the faith that has been substantiated by the instruction and approval of the Spirit of God from our earliest experience until the present time. We are to cherish as very precious the work that the Lord has been carrying forward through His commandment-keeping people, and which, through the power of His grace, will grow stronger and more efficient as time advances. The enemy is seeking to becloud the discernment of God’s people, and to weaken their efficiency; but if they will labor as the Spirit of God shall direct, He will open doors of opportunity before them for the work of building up the old waste places. Their experience will be one of constant growth, until the Lord shall descend from heaven with power and great glory to set His seal of final triumph upon His faithful ones.”—The General Conference Bulletin, May 28, 1913. (Partially quoted in Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 437-439.) SDACBB 8.6

D. E. Robinson
Ellen G. White Estate
March, 1962
retyped October, 1996