"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries
BABYLON: Part 4 - Fruits quotes
1) "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Matthew 7:16-20.
2) "And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." Revelation 14:8.
3) Babylon fallen represented the fall of the Protestant churches from God in 1844 because they had rejected the light and truth from heaven of the First Angel's Message (Testimonies, vol 4, p 13; Early Writings, p 274; Great Controversy, p 381-383).
The Roman Catholic church had already apostatized from God and become Babylon fallen many centuries before 1844, and God had chosen the Protestant churches to reveal His truths to the world. But they, as a corporate body, had also chosen to apostatize and depart from the side of Christ--her Husband, and to unite themselves in harlotry with the world and its leader Satan. God mercifully sent the First Angel's Message to break up their harlotrous love affair with the world, and to bring them back to His side as a faithful bride once again. But they refused, and thus became Babylon fallen (Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 230-240). The wine of Babylon is her false doctrines which she is founded upon--namely Sunday observance and the immortality of the soul (Evangelism, p 365; Testimonies, vol 6, p 317; Great Controversy, p 536; Selected Messages, book 2, p 118; Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 979).
4) Babylon is now:
-- a modern "wicked city" (Signs of the Times, June, 1992, p 29).
-- the "wickedness of my city" (Adventist Review, December 31, 1992, p 9).
-- "evil influences" (Signs of the Times, June, 1992, p 29).
-- "the archenemy of Christ and His church" (Adventist Review, July 13, 1989, p 11).
-- "is still present as a mind-set or attitude" (Signs of the Times, May, 1992, p 13).
-- "worshiping anyone but God alone" (Adventist Review, October 15, 1992, p 11).
-- "spiritual compromise" (Signs of the Times, Special Issue, 1985, p 8).
-- the "attempt to gain salvation through one's own works" (Adventist Review, December 31, 1992, p 9, see also Marked, p 150).
-- "...the idea that I can save myself or that I can 'do it myself,' in terms of living the Christian life or of getting to heaven" (The Return of Elijah, p 61, by Morris L. Venden, PPPA, 1982).
-- "...the futility of building one's life on either a try-harder or a do-as-you-please principle...[Babylon represents] both nations and individuals..." (Adventist Review, September 7, 1989, p 26).
5) The fall of Babylon is now:
-- "fallen is racism, child abuse, death squads, loneliness, crack, torture, separation, death" (Adventist Review, December 31, 1992, p 9).
-- the "Collapse of the Soviet Union" (Signs of the Times, May, 1992, p 12-13).
6) The call to come out of Babylon is now:
-- to "flee evil" (Adventist Review, February 16, 1984, p 7).
-- to "come out of falsehood" (Signs of the Times, March, 1990, p 28, see also Marked, p 83).
-- to "set aside our natural self-sufficiency and pride and give our wills to God" (Marked, p 84).
7) "The ideology of continued world progress--that man has the solutions to the besetting problems of our age; that given a little more time, he can, without divine intervention, produce a better world--is the intoxicating wine that Babylon has dispensed to the entire world." Adventist Review, September 7, 1989, p 26.
8) "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, if any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name....
"And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities" Revelation 14:9-11, 18:1-5.
9) --The Beast, being the Roman Catholic Church (Revelation 13:1-8; Daniel 7:8-14, 20-21, 24-27, 8:9-14, 23-25; Great Controversy, p 438-450; Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 972), with one of its foundational pillars being the Eucharist–which is a most "blasphemous" and "heaven-insulting heresy" (Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 63). Also, the Pope and the Catholic system as Anti-christ (Great Controversy, p 142-143; Testimonies to Ministers, p 37), and our duty is to expose him and the papacy (Evangelism, p 233; Selected Messages, book 1, p 196).
--The Lamb-like Beast, being the United States of America, which gives life to the Image of the Beast (Revelation 13:11-17; Great Controversy, p 440-445).
--The Image of the Beast, being the Protestant Churches which image Catholicism, including the World Council of Churches (Revelation 13:15-18; Great Controversy, p 443-450; Selected Messages, book 3, p 385). It is formed when the churches unite together upon a platform of common belief in Christ, and "influence the State to enforce their decrees and sustain their institutions" (Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 277-278), and it is our God-given duty to warn all against this power.
--The Mark of the Beast, being the special day of Catholicism – which is Sunday. The mark is given to those who worship on Sunday when they obey the Sunday law while knowing that it is not God's Sabbath (Revelation 13:16-17; Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 976-980; Testimonies, vol 6, p 17; vol 8, p 159; Great Controversy, p 449-450, 578-579).
--Religious Liberty, being our God-given right to study for ourselves, to stand by what we are convicted is truth, to personally proclaim only God’s truth to others, and also to expose error in seeking to set people free from it (Great Controversy, p 563-566; Testimonies, vol 5, p 714-716; Testimonies to Ministers, p 200-203; Testimonies, vol 6, p 402-403). It also means that we are not to obey the civil authorities in regards to this Sunday law, or any other law that conflicts with any of God’s commandments (Acts 5:29, 4:19; Selected Messages, book 2, p 375, 380; Testimonies to Ministers, p 473; Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 910; Testimonies, vol 6, p 193; Fundamentals of Christian Education, p 287; Great Controversy, p 449).
--The wrath of God, being the literal seven last plagues which fall upon the wicked and kills them (Revelation 16; Early Writings, p 44, 64, 289-290; Testimonies, vol 5, p 211, 634; vol 9, p 234-235).
--The non-immortality of the soul (Job 4:17; 1 Timothy 6:15-16; Hebrews 9:27), that there is only a grave to rest in death, but no hell or purgatory to descend into (1 Corinthians 15:51; Acts 13:36; Psalms 88:10-12; Ecclesiastes 9:5-6). And the gift of immortality only given to the righteous at Christ's second coming (2 Timothy 2:11-12; Job 19:26-27; Revelation 20:4-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Great Controversy, p 549-551, 586-587; Testimonies, vol 1, p 344; Gospel Workers, p 119-120).
--The Sanctuary in heaven (Great Controversy, p 324-329, 351-353, 398-400, 409-436; Patriarchs and Prophets, p 351-358) with 2 apartments (Hebrews 9 & 10)--the holy place (Revelation 4:1-5; Hebrews 9:2, 6, 12, 6:19; Leviticus 16:15) and most holy place (Revelation 11:19; Hebrews 9:3-5, 7; Psalms 28:2; 1 Kings 6:16, 8:6; 2 Chronicles 5:7; Exodus 40:3).
--Christ's work of atonement in the most holy place, or the 2nd apartment of heavenly sanctuary, going on since October 22, 1844 at the ending of the 2300 days, and not final until He finishes His work just prior to His coming (Great Controversy, p 400, 419-422; Early Writings, p 251-254; Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 933; Patriarchs and Prophets, p 355-358; Testimonies, vol 5, p 472-473).
--Christ as the Head or first Minister of His church (Bible Commentary, vol 6, p 1083; Acts of Apostles, p 360; Selected Messages, book 1, p 93; Testimonies, vol 1, p 78; vol 4, p 393; Desire of Ages, p 288; Sons and Daughters of God, p 303), also our high Priest, and Mediator between God and man (Hebrews 7, 8 & 10; Bible Commentary, vol 5, p 1145; vol 6, p 1061, 1077-1078, 1116; Selected Messages, book 1, p 243, 332).
--The true church of God, being founded only on Christ and His truth (Desire of Ages, p 413; Acts of Apostles, p 175-176, 595-596; Testimonies, vol 9, p 147; Prophets and Kings, p 595-596), with the marks of the true church listed in Revelation 12:17 and 14:12; which "keep the commandments of God," the "faith of Jesus," and the "testimony of Jesus Christ" (Great Controversy, p 453-454) which is "the spirit of prophecy" (Revelation 19:10) or the writings of Ellen G. White (Testimonies to Ministers, p 114; Selected Messages, book 1, p 27, 41; Evangelism, p 257; Testimonies, vol 4, p 13). Hence these writings have their continuing purpose, and are still to be followed today as a guiding light until Christ comes (Selected Messages, book 1, p 48-50; Life Sketches, p 198; Publishing Ministry, p 361; Testimonies, vol 5, p 64, 654, 672-691; vol 3, p 257, 260)!
--The Righteousness of Christ: this precious conditional gift (Sons and Daughters of God, p 189; Selected Messages, book 1, p 377; Christ’s Object Lessons, p 223; Prophets and Kings, p 591; Sons and Daughters of God, p 369) is imputed by faith to every repentant sinner (Bible Commentary, vol 6, p 1071-1072; Selected Messages, book 1, p 392, 397, 317, 363; Sons and Daughters of God, p 240; Testimonies, vol 5, p 469; vol 3, p 371-372; Gospel Workers, p 161; Testimonies, vol 8, p 208-209; My Life Today, p 311; Mount of Blessings, p 115-116; Medical Ministry, p 115), and enables us to be accepted back to God (Patriarchs and Prophets, p 353), and then to receive His grace (Patriarchs and Prophets, p 431; Selected Messages, book 1, p 351). This grace enables us to overcome all sin, perfecting holiness in the fear of God before Christ's second coming (Prophets and Kings, p 175; Testimonies, vol 4, p 567; Testimonies to Ministers, p 92, 150; Testimonies, vol 3, p 528; Desire of Ages, p 555-556; Selected Messages, book 1, p 395; Acts of Apostles, p 531; Sons and Daughters of God, p 315; Testimonies, vol 5, p 744). We must use our will power to take the first step in obedience to God before His grace comes to help us overcome (Joshua 3:13, 15-17; My Life Today, p 100) and Christ's righteousness imparted to us (Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 972; Evangelism, p 596; Bible Commentary, vol 6, p 1096; Selected Messages, book 1, p 241; Testimonies to Ministers, p 92; Messages to Young People, p 35; Desire of Ages, p 439). The law of God is still binding upon the Christian today, and Christ's keeping of it does not free us from having to keep it also (Testimonies to Ministers, p 94; Sons and Daughters of God, p 240; Testimonies to Ministers, p 131; Bible Commentary, vol 6, p 1073). Perfection is not instantaneous (Sanctified Life, p 10, 92; Messages to Young People, p 114; Testimonies, vol 3, p 325; vol 8, p 312-313; vol 1, p 340; vol 2, p 472; Acts of Apostles, p 560-561; Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 947; Christ’s Object Lessons, p 65-66; Selected Messages, book 1, p 317), but is progressive throughout the lifetime while striving and advancing upward on the straight and narrow pathway to heaven (Acts of Apostles, p 533, 560-561; Testimonies, vol 2, p 170, 408-409, 479; Messages to Young People, p 73, 144-145; Selected Messages, book 1, p 28; Fundamentals of Christian Education, p 218; Christ’s Object Lessons, p 315; Bible Commentary, vol 5, p 1085; Testimonies to Ministers, p 150). Thus while we are on the earth, no one is yet saved, or should say or feel that they are saved until they actually make it into heaven (Selected Messages, book 1, p 314; book 3, p 354). Christ's robe of righteousness will not cover any unrighteousness nor one unconfessed sin. Hence no one can find salvation in Jesus while continuing to live in sin (Faith I Live By, p 113; Christ’s Object Lessons, p 312; Review and Herald, vol 2, p 232; Signs of the Times, vol 2, p 307; vol 3, p 363; Selected Messages, book 1, p 396; Lift Him Up, p 150; Bible Commentary, vol 6, p 1072; Desire of Ages, p 555-556).
-- And finally one of the greatest truths, that being the Seventh-day or Saturday is the only Lord's day of worship as the Sabbath (Genesis 2:2-3; Revelation 1:10; Testimonies, vol 6, p 128), that it is the sign or seal of God (Ezekiel 20:12, 20), and there is no biblical truth supporting a change to Sunday as the Lord's day (Exodus 20:8-11; Hebrews 4:3-11; Ezekiel 20:12-20; 1 Chronicles 17:27). Thus we must keep the Sabbath holy in obedience to God if we would see heaven (Early Writings, p 37; Desire of Ages, p 206; Testimonies, vol 8, p 196-198; Great Controversy, p 455; Testimonies, vol 6, p 349; Prophets and Kings, p 182; Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 949; Testimonies, vol 3, p 392; Evangelism, p 290; Testimonies, vol 1, p 532; vol 2, p 705; Life Sketches, p 117-118).
10) The Beast is now:
-- "the false lord" (Adventist Review, December 31, 1992, p 10),
-- representing "the forces that oppose God's last day people" (Adventist Review, May 5, 1994, p 18).
-- "The Beast represents a form of self-worship..." (The Return of Elijah, p 72).
11) "The purpose of this essay is primarily to show how Seventh-day Adventist understanding of the eucharist or the Lord's supper...[and] to highlight Adventist understanding and practice of the eucharist...
"In preparation for the celebration of the eucharist Seventh-day Adventists practice the washing of feet..." Churches Respond to Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry, vol 2, p 341-343, 1985. (This is the SDA churchs' official response to the ecumenical meeting they were a part of at the Faith and Order Conference of the World Council of Churches of January, 1982 in Lima, Peru).
--The Eucharist is also called the "central celebration of the Christian church" (Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry, vol 2, p 341).
--The church also states; "On occasion Seventh-day Adventists refer to the eucharist as a sacrament" (Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry, vol 2, p 342).
--The church also state that SDA's are "conscious of the sacredness of the celebration of the eucharist" (Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry, vol 2, p 342).
"And we could go on if space permitted--to mention the WCC's... accentuation of the Holy Spirit and the Eucharist. All of these emphases fit into the ambit of the three angels' messages." Adventist Review, May 2, 1991, p 10.
12) "...if he was taught that the Pope is the anti-christ, I think that would be a misunderstanding. I don't feel that's what we as a church believe....
"...[the anti-christ], that's not a person. That's not an individual..." Kenneth Cox, representing the SDA church on WTGL TV interview, February 8, 1993.
13) The Antichrist is now:
-- "former christians" (Signs of the Times, September, 1990, p 25).
-- "a mind-set" (Signs of the Times, September, 1990, p 26).
-- those who teach "false doctrine qualify" (Adventist Review, October 27, 1983, p 7).
-- those who "draw us away from our commitment to Christ" (Signs of the Times, September, 1990, p 26).
-- those who "deny that Jesus is the Christ or the Messiah" (Signs of the Times, September, 1990, p 25). [Hence even the Devil and all his evil angels cannot be anti-christ either (Matthew 8:29, Mark 1;24, Luke 4:34)!]
14) "Although it is true that there was a period in the life of the Seventh-day Adventist Church when the denomination took a distinctly anti-Roman Catholic viewpoint...that attitude on the church's part was nothing more than a manifestation of widespread anti-popery among conservative protestant denominations in the early part of this century and the latter part of the last, and which has now been consigned to the historical trash heap so far as the Seventh-day Adventist church is concerned." Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (US Government) vs Pacif Press Publishing Association (SDA Church), Civ #74-2025 CBR, Reply Brief for Defendants, p 4.
"...our work is not to denounce the Roman Catholic Church." Pacific Union Recorder, February 18, 1985, p 4.
15) The Lamb-like Beast is now:
-- "an idol-making power" (Adventist Review, October 15, 1992, p 10).
-- "the antispirit" (Adventist Review, September 7, 1989, p 22-23).
16) The Image of the Beast is now:
-- an idol or an image we worship "rather than the Creator-God" (Adventist Review, October 15, 1992, p 9).
-- setting "yourself up against the Lord of heaven...this type of idol" (Adventist Review, October 15, 1992, p 10).
"...the Image to the Beast is enforcing a religious duty by human power....The combination of belief in God...and trying to obey through your own efforts, is the Image of the Beast." The Return of Elijah, p 77.
17) "If he [Lamb-like beast or the antispirit] cannot lead us to outright disobedience (which gives us a mark in the forehead), then he leads us to adopt a token (or surface) obedience (which qualifies us for the mark in the hand).
"This is how the antispirit makes an image to the beast. Surface obedience, not rooted in love, will eventually produce a character like that of the beast." Adventist Review, September 7, 1989, p 23.
18) "...we love one another [Christians of other denominations], and work together. That's what its all about....That's what we [SDA church] are here for--is to profit from one another [other denominations]." Kenneth Cox, representating the SDA church on WTGL TV interview, February 8, 1993.
19) "Adventist Find Friends At The World Council of Churches." Canadian Union Messenger, September, 1983, p 5.
20) "The Mark of the Beast principle is that man can...do something that will get him to heaven and make him acceptable to God." Marked, p 88.
"The Mark of the Beast involves...salvation by works." The Return of Elijah, p 73.
"...the Mark of the Beast, which is salvation by works of self-righteousness." Marked, p 38.
21) "...the Sabbath...[is] God's sign of obedience....But we must beware! Anyone whose focus is on the Sabbath...who looks at his Sabbathkeeping as the ground of his salvation...is a candidate for the mark of the beast." Adventist Review, September 7, 1989, p 26.
22) "Included in such discussions have been related theological concepts such as the nature of Christ, the nature of man, the nature of sin, perfection, and the question as to whether it is possible for a Christian to live a sinless life. In our judgment these complex theological and biblical issues need not be settled in detail in order to rejoice in the gracious provision of salvation through faith in Christ...We are requesting that we refrain from involving ourselves in public presentations of the fine points and the controversial aspects of the theology of righteousness by faith....
"We should all seek to diminish the flood of cassettes, brochures, books, and miscellaneous documents...This ended the discussion because the voice of the highest authority had spoken." Adventist Review, May 24, 1979, p 4-5.
"It is our responsibility to study the Scriptures for ourselves, to ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to submit our understandings to those in the church who are able to judge our findings, and then to abide by the decisions of the church..." Adult Sabbath School Quarterly, Lesson 13, March 28, 1987, p 92.
"Leadership will lead in love and understanding, and followership will support the church leadership unfailingly, even though necessarily critical of some decisions of leadership." Adventist Review, October 25, 1979, p 14.
"...the position of the majority group of sane leadership which is determined to put the brakes on any [SDA] members who seek to hold views divergent from that of the responsible leadership of the denomination." Eternity magazine, September, 1957, quoting the stated positions of SDA church leaders; article titled "Are Seventh Day Adventist Christians?"
23) "Ellen White...[writing about the Sunday laws] told the people do not go contrary to civil authority." Kenneth Cox, representing the SDA church on WTGL TV interview, February 8, 1993.