How long did Israel's slavery last in Egypt?
Many think 430 years to the text in Ex 12:40,41. But God gave the key to understand this text all the way back in Gen 15:16 and the Bible itself provides the evidence in Ex 6:15-26 that it has been half that long.Sons of God are not fallen angels
posted: 5 nov 2016auteur: Ingrid Wijngaarde
Who are the sons of God?
Genesis 6:1,2,4
People say, the breed of sons of God and daughters of men, are giants? But that is not what it says.
It says, And it came to pass that men (humans) began to multiply on the ... earth ... and daughters were born to them.
No night there!
In the land of fadeless dayLies “the city four-square;”
It shall never pass away,
And there is “no night there.”
All the gates of pearl are made,
In “the city four-square;”
All the streets with gold are laid,
And there is “no night there.”
And the gates shall never close
To “the city four-square;”
There life’s crystal river flows,
And there is “no night there.”
There they need no sunshine bright,
In “that city four-square;”
For the Lamb is all the light,
And there is “no night there.”
Refrain
God shall “wipe away all tears;”
There’s no death, no pain, nor fears;
And they count not time by years,
For there is “no night there.”
SDA Hymnal 427
Dedicated to my friend and sister in Christ, Elisabeth.
May this song always drive all sadness and gloom in your heart!
Tamid in Daniel – a beter explanation
door Ingrid A. Wijngaarde
2017, Oct 15, updated 2018, June 2
Introduction
The Bible book Daniel is only to be understood if the Sanctuary doctrine is understood. Because many Seventh Day Adventists don’t get any education anymore in the sanctuary message, at least insufficient, - in other churches even less, to them Daniel remains a closed book. The sanctuary message is absolutely the foundation of the SDA theology. Literally every doctrine we hold on to and every belief of the SDA Church finds its basis in the sanctuary doctrine, that Jesus is High Priest in the Heavenly Sanctuary. When explaining the crucial versus in Daniel 8:1-14; 23-26 the sanctuary must be assumed to be understood. The sanctuary is the immediate context of all the prophetic chapters in the book Daniel (2,7-12) and especially of Daniel 8:8-14, and also of the New Testament books Romans, Hebrews and Revelation.
Every controversy that arises and ever arose over the SDA prophetic interpretation of the books Daniel and Revelation, finds its roots in misunderstandings of the sanctuary in Israel. In the explanation about the tamîd in Daniel, hereunder, it is assumed that the reader understands the significance of the sanctuary of Israel.
Tamid – daily sacrifice (KJV)
What does Daniel mean with what is translated in our bibles as daily sacrifice(s)? There are few English translations that translates with ‘the daily’ of ‘the continually’); e.thmid (the tamîd) in Hebrew (there are many interlinear transliterations of the Hebrew text; I used that of Interlinear Scripture Analyzer). For starters, there is not written ‘sacrifice’ in the original. I crossed out this word in Daniel in my Bible years ago. In this study, I will tell you why…
Five times we find e.thmid in Daniel and every time it informs us what the little horn power does (8:11,12,13; 11:31 and 12:11). Thmid in Daniel is never ever used as an adjective, but always as a noun, easy to see by the article e..
The common SDA explanation is that in Daniel it’s an adjective used “substantively” i.e. as a noun, or adjectival noun, and that a noun is not implied, but that the reader has to add to the sentence (Cf. Don F. Neufeld, Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia, Revised Edition (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald, 1976), 367-370).
I am not a theologian, but I don’t agree with this explanation, because it totally neglects the sanctuary context of Daniel 8, while it is so obvious there.
Nowhere in the Old Testament we find in any reference to the sanctuary, thmid is used as an adjective attached to a (morning or evening) sacrifice – the noun one has to think attached to it according to Neufeld and the majority of Bible translators. Morning and evening sacrifice is called oluth l.bqr u.lorb and sacrifices for special days are called olth ium.
Sacrifices that were brought daily , or always on set times, or day by day, (for instance morning and evening sacrifices), the word thmid is always attached to the word l.ium or olth. Olth or Oluth means sacrifice, going up before the Lord (see Ezra 3:3-5).
Logic demands that if we say that the little horn "took away the daily" and by that we mean the morning and evening offering, it makes no sense at all. Because the Church has never forbid morning and evening worship for the believers. The blasphemic worship service - aka Mass - is in all its aspects a denial of the meditorial service of Christ. But more of that, later ...
But in the Old Testament there are only six kinds of ‘continually’ without reference to ‘sacrifice’ – in relation to the sanctuary:
(1) The shewbread (Ex 25:30: Lev 24:8; Num 4:7,16).
(2) The light of the six-armed candlestick (Ex 27:20,21; Ex 30:8; Lev 6:13; 24:2-4).
(3) The incense on the golden altar (Ex 30:7).
(4) And the attributes on the coat of the High Priest: breast plate and the engraved plate on his forehead (Ex 28:29,30,38).
(5) The cloud above the tabernacle (Num 9:16).
(6) In Deut 11:12 we find a tamîd not in reference to the sanctuary, where God promises that He would consider the land ‘continually’; or in Psalms 25:15, where the Psalmist says that he will keep his eyes focussed on the Lord for ever, continually; or in Psalms 51:3, where David confesses that he will always remember his sin, continually without end; or in Psalms 105:4, where the Psalmist advices us to seek God's strenght evermore, always, conyinually.
Do you know that we find this meaning even in the new Testament in the Greek word pantothe - always, without end (see examples in Luke 18:1 and 1 Corinthians 1:4 and most significant, Jesus in His High Priestly role in Hebrews 7:25).
In total we find tamîd 104 times through the Old Testament, but only ten times in relation to the Holy (of the sanctuary), and always without giving reference to a oblation (1-3), and in each of those ten times it refers to parts of the work of salvation, taking place in the typical sanctuary service in the Holy, and not at the altar of burnt offerings in the courtyard. The texts for (2) and (3) suggest an ongoing service rendered by the highpriest during the whole day- his duty was to keep the lamps burning 'continually' at full strength and the insence going up 'continually' at full strength (see Lev 24:4). The reading of the text 'from evening to morning'even suggests a 24h service! And surely not limited to the time of morning and evening sacrifice! In KJV Ex 30:8 is incorrectly translated with "when Aaron lights the lamps". Obviously the lamps were supposed never to go out, so 'trims' or 'attends' (taking care of) would be a better translation. In Numbers 4:7 it is stressed that the shewbread is always, 'continually' on the table. What a beautiful symbol for the 24/7 service we may expect from our heavenly High Priest (see next paragraph, "Tamid-Rigtheousness by faith").
Tamid – righteousness by faith?
Many Seventh-day Adventists say that tamid is righteousness by faith. But what is righteousness by faith in the context of the sanctuary? The reasoning is, that the evening and morning sacrifice in the tabernacle symbolize the continual daily prayer that the believer sends up to God - the application of which in our daily life is the morning and evening prayer, in which we dedicate ourselves respectively for the coming day to God and wherein we conclude the day with a prayer of thanksgiving and dedicate ourselves for the night. That is the reasoning and there is nothing wrong with that.
But what does this mean in the context of the service of the sanctuary that was casted down by the little horn and trampled underfoot? In the context of the sanctuary it means, that since the ascension, we have a Mediator and High Priesthood in the heavenly sanctuary, who "receives" and mixes our prayers with His righteousness - on which we hope - and for our benefit to His Father " presents as a good sacrifice, our reasonable worship service "(Romans 12:1).
In the context of the sanctuary tamid does not pertain to morning and evening sacrifices, but to the continual (tamid) prayers of Christ in His role as High Priest on our behalf. We must not forget that the earthly sanctuary is but a pattern of the perfect example of the sanctuary in heaven and not the other way around! The type on earth had its limitations - every sacrifice represented Christ's sacrifice, but the reality is much greater. Christ is in reality sacrifice and priest for forgiveness, mediator and high priest for atonement - at the same time - one Who does not die and Whose service does not pass to another (Hebrews 5:6; 7:11-17, 24-28), but Who continually (tamid) serves in the entire heavenly sanctuary and since 1844, also in the department of reconciliation - the Holy of Holiest, while doing the service of forgiveness in the Holy, because He is not bound by an annual cycle, such as the mortal earthly high priests.
Thàt is what we may believe - that righteousness is provided by Christ through His heavenly ministries of forgiveness and reconciliation.
Forgiveness and reconciliation - two separate services
In the earthly typology, forgiveness was possible through confession and the slaughter of the sacrifice on the altar of burnt offering in the courtyard - outside the city, outside the sanctuary (on earth). The blood was then brought in by the priest into the first section of the sanctuary, smeared on the horns of the golden altar of incense, which stood on the right side of the throne of God (the ark of the covenant - Hebrews 8:1,2). No blood of the morning and evening sacrifice was brought into the sanctuary. It was an offering of fire that burned symbolically continually in the courtyard (other sacrifices that were made during the day were burned on the remains of the morning sacrifice, and in that sense the morning sacrifice was continually burning). This was the daily service.
On the Day of Atonement (DoA), a special sacrifice was made - for atonement. On that day no sin offerings were slaughtered, because on earth the two services could not be represented at the same time, because of human limitations. Ten days prior to DoA the people had ample opportunity to sanctify themselves by self-investigation and to have their sins to be forgiven. At DoA, the accumulated sin-blood was removed from the Holy Place, presented to God in the Holy of Holiest as sufficient satisfaction for those who are being saved. Then the sins were symbolically placed on the head of the one who had caused it in the beginning - Satan (Azazel’s goat - the scape goat), as a symbol that God has determined a time that the work of reconciliation will be completed and sin, his instigator and what sin had worked out, death, will be exterminated once and for all. This was the annual service.
It immediately becomes clear that no reconciliation can take place without forgiveness. No crown without a cross - not for Christ, but not for us!
Now, back to our topic.
What the little horn does and what it does not
We SDA’s know very well that the little horn power in Daniel 8 stands for more than imperial Rome, a political power. That would only be the case in the versus 9 and 10.
From verse 11 onwards the little horn is a symbol of papal Rome, a religious power who acts directly to the service in the sanctuary. Is makes no sense to imply here an earthly sanctuary because that lost its meaning after the death of the cross and ceased to have any salvific implication.
In the versus 11 and 12 it is written what this religious power in all its arrogance has done: it installs a religious service ‘by reason of transgression’ that is that it demands worship and puts that in place of the authentic one in the real temple of God. See Hebrews 9:11-17.
Now, every SDA who really knows his sanctuary doctrine, will understand that tamîd – the continually’ can never relate to the old morning and evening sacrifices, because those sacrifices were brought on the altar in the courtyard and not in the Holy of the sanctuary. Every sacrifice on that altar was a type of Christ’s death on the cross, who suffered “outside the city” (city is another word for sanctuary), but the attack on God’s sanctuary in Daniel 8 occurs literally and symbolically after the Christ’s dying on the cross. Sacrifices on the altar of burnt offerings ceased to have any meaning – the sacrifice was completely made, once and for all.
Therefore it makes no sense, to imply that the little horn took away the morning and evening offerings, because by the time the little horn rose to power, those offerings had ceased to have any significance for 500 hundred years. But we adopt the translation error, made from an erroneous understanding of the shadow services in the earthly sanctuary, set on the wrong foot by the added word ‘sacrifice’, that is not there in the Hebrew text.
Every SDA knows that Christ ascended on high t the heavenly sanctuary to minister in the heavenly Holy as our High Priest and Mediator. The task of the earthly high priest in the Holy was caring for the shewbread, the lampstand and the altar of incense (Lev 24:1-8). And yes, that happened daily, but there was no relation with sacrifices in the courtyard.
Shewbread stood for the Word of God; Light for the Spirit of Christ; Incense for the prayers with which He pleads for us continually (thmid) before the Father (Heb 7:25).
Every SDA understands that analogous to the earthly ministry, in 1844 our High Priest also began His ministry in the Holiest of Holy. Because he is not human, He may walk in and out; the earthly high priest could only go in once a year. And therefor He can still plead for us continually, while we are already in the anti-typical Day of Atonement.
Worship by an army of rebels
Now, the worship by reason of transgression installed by papal Rome is: Tradition before the Word (1: bread); the Church is the standard for inspiration (2: light), and forgiveness takes place by mediation of earthly priests (3: incense), with the authority given by an earthly, sinful high priest as head (pope). With this the truth of the gospel of Christ was cast to the ground and trodden under foot; by crucifying Christ anew in every Holy Mass (mass as of massacre), the sacrifice of Christ was made redundant, but then also His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. After all, pope and priest have direct control over salvation and can pray you straight into heaven and beatify you.
This metamorphosis of the sanctuary was so masterfully done that everyone got trapped in the lie and the text says that after that everything this power did was successful (Daniel 8:12), for its shrewdness is supernatural (Revelations 13:2 tells us that he gets his power, throne and strength from the devil himself).
How did the papacy took away the continual mediating ministry of Christ and casted His sanctuary to the ground (Dan 8:11)? By putting the mediation for humans in the hands of humans; priests in the confessional, through Mary, and by sacrificing Christ anew in every Mass, the papacy erased the heavenly mediation of Christ from the minds of the believers.
If Hebrew 7:25 can be happening in a king's palace in Rome, by an earthly high priest, and on his authorithy, by his lower representatives, it is clear that Christ's mediation in heaven becomes unnecessary.
This is negating Christ, totally denouncing what Christ stands for because the Church took that role upon itself, replacing Christ by its blasphemous propositions. This is what antichrist means in its most complete definition.
By replacing the service of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary with the service of priests on earth, the little horn power has casted God's sanctuary to the earth, and trampled it under foot, and by doing so, defiled it.
The cleansing of the sanctuary that would take place after the 2300 evenings and mornings is thus the restoration of this biblical teaching in the thoughts of the believers, that Jesus alone is our only High Priest and Mediator in the heavenly sanctuary, where He serves on behalf of us, pleads continually (tamîd) for us. We do not need a common mediator.
Sanctuary cleansed 1
We know from history that imperial (political) Rome crucified the Prince of the Lord, Jesus, destroyed the literal temple in Jerusalem and thus caused the three "continual" high-priestly mediation ceremonies to cease, and heavily persecuted the saints - both Jews and Christians. But the essence of Daniel 8:11,12 is that papal Rome has gone a step further: it has taken over the task of Christ, and under penalty of death, forced 1260 (538-1798) to 1290 years (508-1798), depending on when you set the starting point of the exercise of its power, unquestionable obedience to its doctrines.
From history we know that on Christmas Day 508 AD Clovis, the king of the Franks, was baptized into the Catholic Church and this gained him the support of the Church to scourge the rebellious Vandals, Heruls and East Goths (Visigoths), who refused to recognize the power of Rome (search wikipeadia). These are the three horns in Daniel 7:8, which were "plucked out" by the Church in its struggle for religious supremacy in the Western Roman Empire (the current Europe). In 538 AD the power was consolidated and the last emperor of Rome - Justinian - officially gave his title of pontifex maximus (= large bridge builder, mediator between earth and heaven = high priest) to the Bishop of Rome, after he already had it passed by decree in 533 AD, determining that the bishop of Rome should be the only head of the Christian church.
Dark middle ages with terrible persecutions came: Daniel 7:25; 12:7; Revelation 11:3; 12:6,14 sketch time, times and half a time - 1260 years until 1798. The imprisonment of the pope in that year meant the end of the exercise of the oppressive power of the Church on the conscience of the faithful, and the reopening of God's Word for the serious Bible searcher. The believers started to "run back and forth" seriously and gained insights. The small booklet was opened and it was understood that the greatest time prophecy in the Bible was coming to an end (Revelation 10:6)! They took the little book (Daniel) from the hand of the heavenly agent and they ate it greedily as if it were honey. People continued to expect the second coming, but they did not fully understand the message. "Blessed are those who keep on expecting and reaching a thousand three hundred and thirty-five days" (Daniel 12:12, my translation). We know our SDA history: It was a bitter disappointment.
And so it took 1335 years (508-1843) before God’s Bible believing people understood what the truth of the sanctuary, which had been trampled under feet for 1260 years, meant: on October 23, 1844, the Advent people raised their eyes and saw the shining light of the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ pleads continually (tamîd) for us! In this way, the sanctuary was restored to its rightful place.
The angel says to John: "And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings." (Revelation 10:11). The SDA church was born. The proclamation of the everlasting gospel “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" (Revelation 14:7) became her "creed"; the proclamation of the three angels' messages and the casting of light on the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ pleads tamîd for us, became her mission.
Confirmation from BRI – Gerhard Pfandl
In 2013, when I started studying this subject, I had an extensive email correspondence with Gerhard Pfandl from the Bible Research Institute (BRI). I had it figured out for myself already, but God stopped me from working on it any further, although I had tried to finish it a few times. Today, the last bits of the last verses of the book Daniel fell into place for me.
Although Gerhard Pfandl claimed in 2013 that e.thmid in Daniel is used as an adjective (I cannot discover the noun in the Hebrew text), he said the following, which supports my explanation. He replied, “Your understanding of tamîd in the book of Daniel is basically correct.
In Daniel where the word tamîd occurs five times (Dan 8:11-13; 11:31; 12:11) it appears always by itself with the article, but without the word ʿōlâ or any other word for sacrifice, i.e., the adjective tamîd is used substantively. … 2 Hence, in Daniel the word tamîd refers to the whole daily ministry of the Prince of the host (8:11) beginning in AD 31…
It is the ministry of Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary beginning in AD 31…. The ‘daily’ or ‘continual’ service in the Old Testament represented God’s continuing beneficent provision for man, and pointed forward symbolically to Christ’s ministry in the heavenly sanctuary which he began after his ascension (Heb 7:25)” (Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary, s. v. “Daily”).”
Confirmation of BRI - Ángel Rodriguez
After some further research on the BRI website, I found further support for my explanation in an article by Ángel Rodriguez, 3 in which he very delicately remarks that in Daniel it is not stated that the little horn power destroys the Prince, but that it rises against Him (in other words, challenges Him). This is completely in line with how I understand the tamîd passages in Daniel.
He writes,
“We notice that the little horn is not able to defeat or kill the Prince. It only removed the continual/tamîd from Him. It ascribed to itself that which was the exclusive work of the Prince in the heavenly sanctuary. This is the meaning of the phrase "and from him [the Prince] was taken the continual." …
The little horn removed the continual from the Prince by usurping His priestly work. By ascribing to itself the work of the Prince, the little horn makes the mediation of the Prince ineffective for those who support its political and religious aspirations. …
In Daniel 8:11, the little horn was to cast, or throw, in the sense of reject, abandon, or forsake, "the place" (Hebr) of the sanctuary down to earth (emphasis mine)... 4 …
A careful reading of Daniel 8:11 suggests that there is a close connection between the taking away of the continual and the act of throwing (away) the place of the sanctuary. The very purpose of the sanctuary is directly related to the work of the messianic Prince, that is to say, His work of mediation, intercession, and forgiveness of sins. By misappropriating the continual ministry of the Prince, the little horn in fact rejects the very foundation of the heavenly sanctuary as a center of mediation and forgiveness….
Another activity of the little horn is described in verse 12: 5 "And a host was given over the continual in transgression/rebellion (peshac)."… 6 What the text seems to be saying is that once the little horn misappropriated the continual, it immediately appointed a host or army over it to control or to minister it... 7
Daniel is informing us that the activity of the little horn against the continual and the heavenly sanctuary is in essence a manifestation of a spirit of rebellion against God. Its work can be defined through a single word—"rebellion" (Hebrew: peshac). Peshac is one of the strongest terms for sin in the Old Testament because it designates sin as an attack against God's sovereignty. The person "who commits a peshac does not simply rebel against Yahweh or raise himself up against Him, but he breaks with Him, takes that which is His away, robs, defrauds Him, lays his hands on that which belongs to Him." This understanding of the term peshac describes in a precise way the activity of the little horn.”
Conclusions
In this study I share what I have discovered, just by reading Scripture with my understanding of our SDA sanctuary message.
During all my 37 years of being a member in this Church, I was always told by church theologians and ministers, that e.thmid (hatamîd) in Daniel speaks about morning and evening sacrifices. And this is still the only interpretation, we as lay hear. Maybe scholars at our Bible Research Institute know, because of their in-depth Daniel and Revelation study project. Until now I haven’t had a chance to look into those reports. The results of that study project may not have descended to the level of the lay in the pews. So, what might be very obvious to our SDA scholars, is certainly not for the people, because the insights are not shared.
It is clear to me that adverbs and adjectives can be used as nouns - it is even so in my Dutch language - but I have good reasons to believe that tamîd is intended in Daniel to be a noun. Especially if we can agree that sacrifices are not meant - as the erroneous Bible translator’s insertion of the word 'sacrifice' wants to make the not all too experienced Bible student believe.
Shewbread, incense and light are - in the tabernacle typology - not meant to be shadows of the anti-typical cross of Christ - unlike all the other sacrifices that were brought on the brass altar in the courtyard.
To me, the insertion of the noun 'sacrifice' in our Bibles obscures the texts in Daniel - making the significance of what the little horn did very difficult to understand.
If we would take the text as it is (without insertions), not confusing Daniel's e.thmid with the other instances of thmid in the OT, it would be much easier to see what is meant in this most significant prophesy for our time.
To me tamîd in Daniel is not merely Christ ministry in the heavenly sanctuary, because the angel opens up a so much broader view to us – to all the three different aspects of the High Priestly ministry of Jesus after Gogotha – the exact anti-type of the Aaronic high priestly type on earth.
"The daily" is a somewhat clumsy translation of what the angel Gabriel meant by the whole of Christ's continual High Priestly e.htmid-ministry on our behalf, until He will declare "It's Done!" (Rev.16:17).
It is the continual ministration of Christ in the Holy, and from 1844 also in the Most Holy Place, that we might have forgiveness of past sins and to have moment by moment strength to not sin anymore.
Satan worked his best to teach the Christian world that they were to look to man, to get forgiveness from sins and to turn them into saints in heaven. And whatever it endeavored, it accomplished (Dan.8:12).
Understanding this is seeing how this apostate idolatry system, aka RCC, loathes Christ.
It casted His ministration to the ground and in its fit tramples on it - that's what one does when the hate is deep. Instead of this it suggests an escape route, inspired by Satan and his original lie “thou shald not surely die” by the ministration of his host by reason of rebellion (Dan.8:12).
There is no greater hater of Christ in the universe than Satan! The Bible informs us that Satan is the power behind the beast (Rev.13:2). This Christ-hating system, that begets its power from the dragon himself, is an antichrist. It robs us from Christ, the only means of salvation and power through His continual prayers for us to be reconciled with God again! It robs us from His Word, in order not to know the truth, and Spirit light, in order not to be convicted of sin by which we are urged to go to Christ.
Don’t we see why Daniel fainted? He knew his Bible, he knew the symbols of the sanctuary, and how sinners can be reconciled with God again. To get insight in the deep hatred of this little horn power towards his Lord, was beyond what the prophet could bear.
Daniel knew - o, if only our SDA people would know! and understood the anti-typical significance! In his agony Daniel cried out, “How long my, Lord!” He got word, “Until the next phase, Daniel. Until 1844. You will go to your rest, My dearly beloved, many will run to and fro, and in time, My people will understand.”
Through the RCC system Satan had designed that that day would never come. And through it he led billions to believe this antichrist doctrine ... until the day God's people lifted up their heads and looked up - that 23th of October 1844!
And now, Satan cannot deny the fact anymore that his days are numbered, and he is a roaring lion seeking to devour as many as he can, even the elect. Even now, after the amalgamation of October 31, 2018, the RCC admits that they are still the sole dispensers of grace, and it conned the Protestant World to believe that her unbiblical doctrines have changed. A good reader and listener will readily be able to understand that only the phrasing is different, more subtle and shrewd, but that in core it remains the same anti-biblical and anti-christ rebellion, that started with Lucifer in heaven (Rev.12:7).
My hope is that, if we understand that the word 'sacrifice' is inserted, and that Daniel 8 speaks of God’s continual grace through Christ's high priestly ministration in the heavenly sanctuary, we shall be brought to more action to humbly see and proclaim man's continual need of grace, that is being provided in abundance at the mercy seat of God (Hebrews 4:16).
Endnotes
- 1The ESV (English Standard Version) translates this verse more correctly – “Then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state.”[terug 1]
- 2sacrifice is the noun inserted in most Bible translations, making tamîd the adjective used substantively. I say no. To me, in Daniel the word tamîd refers to the whole daily ministry of the Prince of the host, and it is intended to be understood as it reads, standing on its own, as a noun. [terug 2]
- 3You can find the article here. The quotes are from pp.5-7: https://adventistbiblicalresearch.org/sites/default/files/pdf/sanctanditscleansing.pdf [terug 3]
- 6Not only the place of the sanctuary was cast to the earth, but also the truth, its meaning became an earthly service, with earthly priests and an earthly high priest in Rome. [terug 6]
- 7KJV translates with "a host was given". The Hebrew text suggests more details - an army of priests is appointed to control the rebellion (offense) and to fight against the daily. [terug 7]
Messianic authority
posted 2018-03-30
Ingrid Wijngaarde
Jesus never denied His authority. He knew who He was, He knew what His task and assignment was. He begins His ministry with: "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:15) He was talking about
Annual Council October 14, 2018 – Compliance and Accountability
November 1, 2018
by Ingrid Wijngaarde, member of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee in Netherlands Union of Churches Conference, member of Groningen SDA Church, a senior policy advisor for the Dutch government.
Immediately after the meeting on Sunday, October 14, 2018, I wrote the following reflection, but I was so discouraged by what I saw, I decided to let the rest of the AC to pass me by and I put the document away. Would I spend more time and words on this great delusion in God's Church?
A Lot of Why’s
As I watched "the spectacle of the leaders", I wondered a lot. Why do some see a coup in the measure that was proposed? Why were the provisions already in place in the Working Policy (WP) not implemented to tackle non-compliance and non-accountability? Why give another or even a two-year leach to those who have proven time and time again that they do not deserve the Church's trust?
Patience of Saints
But then I reminded myself that God's greatest act of grace is His patience towards us. Can we exercise that patience towards each other? I must admit that I have great difficulty with patience.
Indeed, the WP has provisions to tackle non-compliance (non-adherence), but the imposition of those 'for cause' measures was blocked in 2017, because the majority of the committee members felt that there should be more consultation. A democratic decision; Okay. But we did that in the past year. Everyone has been able to have his or her say and to give extra information, and some have really gone loose in the pulse - there were more than 12,000 extra words submitted.
Working Policy Explained - Again
Article 13 of the General Regulations of the GC contain crystal-clear, legally valid provisions to expel union presidents operating outside the governance structure from the Annual Council body (EXCOM). And since 1955, the sections B15 10 and B15 15 are in our Church policy, that those who – for whatever reason - cannot work in harmony with Church structure cannot be, should not be leaders in the Church. Every self-respecting organization has such provisions to prevent uncontrollability and chaos. Ted Wilson did not invent it and arbitrarily put it in the WP. It is not fair to say this because every union and conference president knows that no leader in our Church decides on his own.
The explanation of Doukmetzian at the beginning of the meeting was very significant. Those who have listened well have understood well that the GC has obtained legal advice from three law firms specialized in corporate law and church law. Our church is, according to US standards, a company under the Associations Incorporation Act 1981 - Sect 105C, and in order to maintain compliance, the Church must have those provisions in its bylaws. The State demands good governance from every corporation. This is also the case in the Netherlands. Look up in the Dutch Civil Code; just ask at any public administration or notary.
These lawyers concluded that the provisions in the WP are there to expel members (union presidents) from the EXCOM meetings for well-founded reasons (referred to in the 'for-cause' section of the Bylaws article), with a vote of 2 / 3 majority and that the quorum required for this action is only 40 members; that the authority to remove also includes the authority to take disciplinary actions.
The lawyers indicated that the EXCOM body may decide to impose additional measures, such as the loss of voice and / or voting rights, if those provisions are mentioned in the Bylaws. This is currently not the case.
Thus, the GC (ADCOM) cannot propose additional measures (to EXCOM) that are not explicitly mentioned in the WP, i.e. the removal of voice and / or voting rights. The lawyers emphasized - after studying our WP - that the governance structure of our Church is based on trust and cooperation in the implementation of action that have been discussed and agreed upon, but that this does not mean that if this cooperation is intentionally not granted, no action can be taken. After all, one of the reasons for ‘removal for cause’ is persistently refusal to cooperate with the chosen authority of the World Church.
Finally, the lawyers indicated that a union that does not want to cooperate, even on basis of a (hostile) action of its constituency or executive committee, although its president may want to, cannot be expelled from the ecclesiastical sisterhood of unions, on basis of Article 13 of the Bylaws. For that aim, there is another section in place in the WP: B 05, sec 3.
The motion
The document was designed with this legal input and put to the vote on 14 October 2018. The action contains three proposals for disciplinary measures against a straying administration or its president, who does not act in accordance with the beliefs and general policies of the Church: 1) warning; 2) public admonition (formal expression of disapproval of behavior) of the leader(s) of the organization; 3) resignation for cause. And that a simple majority suffices, except for option 3, for which a 2/3 majority is required. Measures 1 and 2 have no influence on voice and voting rights, because these provisions are not currently included in the bylaws. These measures do not go against the spirit and the letter of the Church policy. In the past, each of these three situations has occurred. So, we should not pretend that something strange is happening to us now.
The action means that the deviant levels or persons will once again have ample opportunity and time to get themselves in line with the Church policy they have accepted when they took up office - the solemn pledge of trust that they themselves have expressed in the sight of God for the occupation of a leader’s position on basis of mutual accepted Church policy they are now battling against. The action means that EXCOM strongly appeals to the overseeing administrative levels to take up their responsibility (accountability) to call the straying administrations and administrators to order, just as every employee gets a performance interview and ultimately an assessment interview with attached measures, with his direct supervisor.
Can ADCOM appoint committees?
The administrative committee of the GC, just like any other administrative level in our Church up to the level of the local congregation, is authorized to appoint its own advisory committees with associated terms of references. Those committees advise the board independently of the electorate (constituency). This is the status of the five "Compliance Committees".
There is nothing wrong with that and statements of 'kingly power', 'lording over' or ‘power concentration’ really do not apply - these are bottomless accusations.
A union or conference or local church may and must first try to resolve any conflict that has arisen at its own level: the butcher is allowed to inspect his own meat. This was agreed upon at the GC Session in 2010 - the higher administration must stay aloof. A complainant can only appeal to the higher level if his administration has demonstrably infringed his rights. So now, ADCOM therefore urgently calls on to the unions to take up their responsibility towards the conferences and the Divisions towards the unions, after the deviating field itself has first (once again!) had the opportunity to come in line on its own. That is the sole purpose of these 'compliance' committees. Nothing at hand. It is using the existing structure that has been in the Working Policy for decades, put into place by union presidents – their own elective body.
What has now been decided on October 14th is that the advisory committees advise the GC ADCOM (who has installed them) on how to deal with presidents and fields, who, even after this extra redemptive consultation, refuse to adhere to the governing structure, where they said 'Yes' to when they were ordained - rules that they themselves (as an executive body) have instituted for when crises like these would occur. And those advisory proposals will come to the table in EXCOM or in a GC session. So, they themselves will have a say in the ultimate measures to be taken.
More than women's ordination
Remember, the issue here is not women's ordination - it is a fallacy to simplify the current impasse in the Church to women's ordination. It involves a number of major issues, which are at the heart and the foundation of the Church's existence: (1) governance issues: governance, compliance, accountability, governance ethics, democratic consensus decision-making by majority, delegation from bottom-up, trust and reliability; (2) Church beliefs: creation, sabbath, marriage, sexuality, spiritualism, sanctuary message, the historical prophetic explanation, to name a few. There are many preachers in our Church who claim to stand behind the fundamental beliefs, but who convey their own personal opinions in word, writing and behavior.
It is perfectly clear that
anyone who proposes theistic evolution as a possibility for origins, rejects belief 6;
whoever drags the congregation into keeping the Jewish feasts rejects the sacrifice of Christ and His High Priestly service in heaven's sanctuary and our sanctuary message, beliefs 9 and 24;
whoever promotes a Bible translation in which the little horn in Daniel is declared applicable to Antioch Epiphanes, rejects the historical prophetic explanation in beliefs 13 en 14;
whoever proposes Baptism and Communion as dismissible rituals, rejects beliefs 15 and 16;
anyone who claims that quoting Ellen White is obscene, rejects belief 18;
whoever callthe youth to clean dog kennels in the local animal shelter, or pick-up litter in the city park on Community Day or Grand Assignment Festival Day on the Sabbath day, encourages violation of the fourth commandment and rejects belief 20;
whoever will have members believe that stewardship only deals with tithing, makes a caricature of belief 21;
whoever baptizes and marries active homosexuals, rejects belief 23;
whoever proposes and teaches spiritual formation as an acceptable worship style for the Creator God shows to have little insights in the greatest deception that Satan sends to people, rejects belief 26.
These things are all being preached today from our pulpits and taught in our educational institutions. Only anarchy allows for this. Anyone who narrows the current crisis in the Church to "women's ordination" is simply unfairly dishonest.
Indeed, the apostasy among the teachers in Modern Israel surpasses that of those in the days of Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
Fair play
Does this all deserve the beauty prize? No, but neither does the conduct of the deviant unions and conferences. They have allowed themselves to get this far by throwing out every rationality and decency. The point, however, is that the deviant union and conference presidents want to keep their course and only approval of their deviant behavior will be good enough for them. The problem, however, is that ADCOM and EXCOM cannot give that approval - every right-minded person understands why: the Church's policy does not allow it, the State demands compliance from the Church; and finally, just as in the Netherlands, good governance is demanded of every company (see the requirements for associations, companies and religious organizations in the Dutch Civil Code and the general principles of good governance in the Dutch administrative law). Unless the Church, the pastors and members, want to give up their acquired tax benefits, on basis that their Church is ruled by their set policies. This is what the lawyers have explained to the Church and what Karnik Doukmetzian tried to make clear. It is really not all that difficult.
As a member of EXCOM, any union president has the right to submit a motion at any time to change the governance structure of the Church. It is clear that EXCOM may accept such an agenda item, but that the decision will only take place at a GC Session, where the entire World Church is duly represented.
When will we have dialogized enough?
Some have not listened to that explanation ... do not want to listen to that explanation, because it doesn't fit their purpose. Every proposal gives them reason to lament, and some have been doing exactly that for the past 8 years. Persons with 'influence and stages' make use of the fact that 'their followers and public' do not understand the Church structure and they continue to throw oil on the fire and expose 'approvals and likes' of their followers. They call for dialogue, while when they were in office shut up every form of dialogue, they ruthlessly suppressed every question of conscience with much manipulation and hypocrisy. One must have experienced it personally, to see through the game they are playing.
In any case, it is more than clear to me that if there ever was a chance to get women's ordination through, those opportunities are now totally gone. It has become a prestige issue for the proponents: they want to force the General Conference 'on its knees', obviously not realizing that they are the GC. No dialogue, no rationality or redemptive approach will make an impression. The only thing that can bring people to repentance is to enter into a personal dialogue with the Holy Spirit. When I see how some leaders called for prayer and help from the Holy Spirit prior to the meeting, but after the meeting declared that the Holy Spirit was not present because they did not get their way, I wonder if the Spirit still communicates with such persons.
Is a decision with a 97.2% majority sufficient?
It is sobering to realize that the drifting unions and conferences in 'the civilized West' only make up 2.8% of the number of members of the World Church. This picture below presented in a recent article on Fulcrum7. It shows that there are only three unions that have actually ordained women - including the Netherlands. That there are three unions that have, among other things, in protest stopped ordaining men - including Belgium. It is remarkable that these unions and conferences also have problems with the fundamental beliefs issues that are part of this Church crisis.
Looking at the picture above, we can understand that the so-called West is even divided in itself with respect to what compliance and accountability entails. Obviously, a majority of Western union presidents believe that we are treading a dead-end road if every union is allowed to do what is right in its own eyes and that it is the death in the pot for our Church.
I have constructed an interesting table from the Adventist Yearbook 2017. It shows the ratio of members per voting union president in the EXCOM.
One notices right away that the West is highly overrepresented in the assembly: more than twice as many representatives and that 10% of the Church members are represented by 33% of the voting union presidents. Makes me wonder … Are the union presidents from the 'Third World' lesser members in EXCOM? What would happen if we would rectify this skewed ratio? Would we still have a discussion on the validity of GC-session actions?
Still, God is gracious. During all these quarreling years our Church has been growing for 5 years in a row with more than 3,500 new members a day ... exclusively in Third World countries and not in the West! It is time that these fields get the voice ratio the deserve. To me it’s high time they get it!
The question that every one of us - every SDA in the world – should ask himself and reflect upon is, apart from the content of the controversy: Do we want to be a Church, in which 2.8% determines it for the rest? Do we want that 2.8% to get their own way, because they are in the privileged, rich position that they bring in more tithes and offerings? A minority to have the power to suppress the majority, while the issue concerns personal opinions or personal conscience? Where is the concern for the personal conscience of the 97.2%, who show faithful compliance and accountability?
Second thoughts
In the outcome of 60:40 (this was with the same voters as in 2016 - 58:42), apparently a number of union presidents have come to the conclusion that their attitude should change. The accusations made by some that "Third World countries won the battle this time again" and that they hold back the progress does not stand up and is very much, at least, a un-Christlike attitude of superiority as if the fellow administrators in Third World countries are simple-minded ignorant ministers and Church leaders who ‘bought their diplomas and credentials on the black market'. One should think ten times before even thinks of such a suggestion, let alone express or repeat it, for in the Church of Jesus Christ, this beautiful, diverse and multicultural Church of Seventh-day Adventists, it is highly inappropriate to 'black label' a brother who hold the same church administrative position, but who happens to live in a part of the world where the sun shines a little more brightly. For children of the heavenly Father, Who does not consider skin color or ancestry important, making such a statement is very, very petty, and demonstrating a baby faith.
No one won on October 14th - we all should be crying our hearts out from grief, because we are all losers, and if we are not careful, this crisis will cost us our eternal life.
How to get it over with
Will we ever get out of this snake pit? Yes, but only if we stay sober-minded and commit ourselves to good governance. If some have stated at the microphone that there is much more wrong at the administrative level in their unions and conferences, then I hope that theirs was a cry of shame and grief and not a presenting a motive for maintaining their deviant positions. That their consciences told them that instant that they, as a leader-union president, have the duty to go home and put things in order, like King Josiah did (2 Kings 22:11). That they should point out to their administrators that they do not come close to the Biblical prerequisites of 1 Corinthians 12:28 "ability to govern".
Paul ends this chapter on organization in the Body of Christ, God's Church, with: "I will show you a way that goes even further up" - charis, the merciful love of God, without which we will not see God.
The Red Dragon of Revelation 12 and 17 and how it relates to the Sea Beast of Revelation 13
by Ingrid A. Wijngaarde, posted March 16, 2019, updated Dec 26, 2021The large red dragon, with seven crowns on its seven heads from Revelation 12:3 (and Revelation 13:1 and Revelation 17:3), symbolizes (Pagan) Roman empire. The banner of the cavalry of the Roman army was a red dragon (see foot notes). Jesus referred to this banner as the abomination of desolation in Matthew 24:15.
Jesus, You're the center of my desire
Jesus, You are the center of my desire,All that is good and perfect comes from You.
You are the reason for my contentment,
You are the strength for all that I do;
Jesus, You are the center of my desire.
When I have lost my direction, You are the compass for my path,
You are the fire and light when the nights are long and cold.
In sadness, You are the smile that shatters all my tears,
When I am lonely, You are the hand that holds me.
You are the reason I find joy in the simple things of life,
You are the music in the meadows and streams.
The voices of the children in my family and in my home,
You are the source and end of my highest dreams.
My joy, my desire and my joy.
Neville Peter - Jesus, You are the Center of my Joy - Praise Medley - YouTube
The Thorns in My Flesh
Ingrid Wijngaarde, 01-01-2023
The mess I have made in my life,
The irreparable damage I have done,
The people who have been damaged,
Others, who have suffered eternal loss to their souls ...
Conference Faith and Science, August 28 - Sept 2, 2017
Why do Christian scientists perform so well,that their secular peers cannot but acknowledge their research results?
Come and listen at three venues in the country: Groningen, Apeldoorn and Leiden from August 28 to September 2, 2017
Do you want to be part of respectful presentations of remarkable research outcomes, a.o.:
•The Dinosaur Project in Wyoming - 20,000 bones in 20 years, and T-Rex is among them!
•Paleocurrents - worldwide current patters.
•Why Yellowstone national Park had to change the plaque.
•Why organisms are not fit without GADPH (What is thàt?.
•Where is the best place to study the stars?
•Bad arguments that undermine your faith in God.
•Science provides evidences for faith, but can you believe without evidence?
•Why do we find oil and natural gas where we also find pure table salt?
•Do you know the relationship between water and ice - very much ice?
•The jokes in nature and the things that puzzle us?
Visit the website (click banner), like our FB page and share our invitation with your friends. Tweet Twitter and retweet.
The program
Monday August 28 to Thursday August 31
•19:00 h Entry
•1st lecture: 19:30-20:15 h
•short Q&A
•2nd lecture: 20:30-21:15 h
•short Q&A
Friday September 1 there will be no meeting
Saturday September 2
•A presentation in the morning: 11:00 - 12:00 h
•Evening extra, very interesting presentation and Special Q&A dialogue night in Groningen ... and Livestreamed.
Come and listen and ask questions. Give your reviews and comments on our FB page.
Visit our website for more details.
The future of a church in crisis
written by Ingrid A. Wijngaarde, member of Groningen SDA Church, The Netherlands, July 13, 2017
revised
The women's ordination debate has managed to completely fracture the SDA Church within 10 years’ time - we have been warned in advance. In October 2011, a time bomb was laid under the foundations of our church and now, going the Annual Council in October 2017, that thing is about to go off.
Watching as a lay from the sidelines I see very disturbing developments.
GRACE
posted June 8, 2017
author Ingrid Wijngaarde
What is grace to me?
Grace is pardon, absolution for sinners. The Bible starts to tel us on the first pages that sin brings forth death. Sin is nothing less than the transgression of the laws of God (and that is more than the ten commandments - those are just the basic rules, lawyers speak of 'a framework law').
Is the law of God the apple of our eye?
posted: June 23, 2017
author: Ingrid Wijngaarde
Death entered the world because of transgression. But Christ gave His life that man should have another trial. He did not die on the cross to abolish the law of God, but to secure for man a second probation. He did not die to make sin an immortal attribute; He died to secure the right to destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. He suffered the full penalty of a broken law for the whole world. This He did, not that men might continue in transgression, but that they might return to their loyalty and keep God's commandments and His law as the apple of their eye.— EGW: Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 134.
In Hebrew, the apple of the eye is about the image of another person that refects in your eye. We are the apple of God's eye - we are the images in His eye. In other words, His eyes rest on us and we are the little men and women reflecting in His eye. We are never out of His sight!
God desires that likewise His law will reflect in our eyes - that we keep our eyes fixed on them that we may adjust our course continually as we go.
That law is so important to Him that He gave His life for it. That law is the standard of His judgement about us.
Be True
Thou must be true thyself,Has Messiah Come?
by Avram Jehoshua, a Jewish Rabbi who became a Christian. Simply by studying the Bible and the knowledge he had of the Old Testament, as a jew who had all the jigsaw pieces all along. He didn't had to read SDA books. How strange that there are Christians who seem to know that the Messiah is still to come; teaching the people to keep all teh shadows ... Jesus said: That is like fasting at a wedding party...Outcome Press Together meeting SUNDAY August 30
-Update September 5th, 2015 - The struggle we see today in the Church and in the world against God and His truth must not bewilder us. It is NOW that God's children must encourage each other that God has a church on this earth, and that they are in it. That Church will see revival and reformation, although not all will recognize it. We are told that entire unions and conferences will be sifted out of His church, but the faithful will remain to the end. Invisible may be, persecuted and tossed about from within and without, but invincible. We need not lose our inner peace when we are confronted with rebellion, but when it comes to speaking against apostasy there is no anonymity and indifference. Those that sound the alarm will never be loved, but they must be strong and courageous. God's faithful will reach the finish line!!!Lezers commentaren De Alarmklok Luiden door Jan Voerman
Hier een selectie uit de lezersreacties op het actuele boek van Jan Voerman – Raising a Red Flag - An Analysis of The One Project. Sommige namen zijn niet vermeld, maar bekend bij de schrijver. Het is triest dat leden bang moeten zijn gemarginaliseerd te worden als ze zich uitspreken over dwaalleer in de kerk. Wanneer ze de weg van Jezus volgen en de verkeerdheden aankaarten bij het leiderschap, worden zeReaders' comments Raising a Red Flag by Jan Voerman
Here a compilation of readers' comments on the timely book by Jan Voerman - Raising a Red Flag - An Analysis of The One Project. Some names are not disclosed, but known by the writer. It is sad that members must be afraid to be marginalized because of speaking out about erroneous teachings in the church. When they go the Jesus-way to bring the wrongs to the leadership, they areThe NUC Women Ordination Rebellion
Judge for yourself...Pilgrimage
After Psalms 121, a pilgrimage song of David
Christus' bloed
Het bloed van Christus is voor mij,
Verzoening voor mijn zonden.
Voor mij overwon Hij het venijn,
Nu leef ik ongeschonden.
Mijn Heiland, Heer, zonder U
Was ik miserabel en zonder hoop.
Mijn hart, o Koning, dat wist U,
Verkeerde in onbekende nood.
Voor mij staat ‘t kruis hoog opgericht,
Hangend tussen hemel en aarde.
Geen mens blijft staan in het gericht,
Zonder die daad van waarde.
Het bloed van Christus, nu, voortaan!
Want Hem heb ‘k hardste nodig.
Zonder Christus, is ‘t een leeg bestaan,
Op meer kon ik niet hopen.
Het bloed van Christus:
Troost, Trouw en Zeker.
Voor mij geplengd,
Uit d’Hemelse Liefdesbeker.
Het bloed van Christus:
wast mij dagelijks rein.
Mijn hart is uitzinnig blij, want
God zingt een loflied voor mij!
Van schuld bevrijd; de hemel, mijn thuis!
Door het bloed van Christus - Zijn kruis!
(Ingrid Wijngaarde, 12 januari 2004)
ZIE OOK: DE PASSIE VAN DE CHRISTUS
The Shaking is Coming!
For those interested in the theme of teh Shaking under God’s people, there is the very informative book of Keavin Hayden, to be purchased at Amazon.com for around $4,00. The book is titled “The shaking among Gods people.” The follow-up is titled “How to Survive the Shaking” and is about the shaking that will come or is already taking place in our churches worldwide.
The One Project -aka- Project One
During more than 170 years Seventh Day Adventists have learned a lot, even from other churches. But we have always held on to the principle of "proving the spirits" before jumping in dark waters. This is what we should do with The One Project . Never heard of The One Project? Also called Project One? No?
“My People Have Committed Two Evils”
In reference to Jeremiah 2, Ellen White wrote an article in the Signs of the Times of Octiober 2, 1893. To the point thoughts for our time.Open letter from Phill Mills, Dermatologist, to Angel Rodriguez, Theologian
The most intelligent answer so far in the Women Ordination debate, and coming from a non-theologian!The Law in Romans 7
O, how I love Paul! A little (very much!) philosophical, but so clear if you think a through!I want to talk to you about how I understand Romans 7. A conquest! Paul is explaining it beautifully …
THE LOST DEBATE at the Council of Trend
It was at the Council of Trend (1545-1563) that the Catholic Church formulated its permanent fundamentals of the Catholic CreedUnity in Error
In 1888, more than 125 years ago, the first edition of a remarkable book was released, The Great Controversy between Christ and Satan, by Ellen G. White. The book gives remarkable insights in what is happening behind the veil of the history of the Christian Church, from the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD until the second coming of Jesus Christ in the future. Chapter 35 of this book is presenting us right now with live scenes – as if it was written YESTERDAY! The call for unity without doctrines, is one of the remarkable prophesies for our time, and it is fulfilling itself right before our very eyes!Video - We are living in momentous times
We are living in momentous times. Things are happening rapidly and right before our very eyes.The final movements will be rapid ones and what are we going to do?
Robert Pierson's Address to the General Conference
2013-12-19
Introduction in blue by Stephen Bohr, comments in red by Ingrid Wijngaarde
John 17:22 – That they may be one?
“That they may be one” is THE driving text of the ecumenical movement. It is the driving force of the Roman Catholic goal of ONE World Religion, under Rome.What is Promise Ministry
Name
Promise Ministry is gospel ministry, with a Adventist Book Shop ann Publishing company, residing in Groningen, The Netherlands. The full name is: Foundation Promise Ministry, Prayer and Mission.
Goal
1. Promise Ministry has the aim to stimulate the awareness of the need for effective prayer ministry and Bible study as substance of equipping believers to live and share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. Promise Ministry tries to reach this goal by:
a. Directing the focus of God loving Christians to the Second coming of Jesus Christ and the need to fulfill His commission by proclaiming the full three Angels Message of Revelation 14:6-12, in order to prepare Him a people that keep His commandments and have the faith of Jesus;
Spring Meeting Sabbath Sermon Ted NC Wilson, April 9, 2011
CHRIST’S ALL-ENCOMPASSING RIGHTEOUSNESSSabbath Sermon, April 9, 2011
General Conference Spring Meeting Oakwood University, Huntsville, Alabama
Ted N C Wilson
Christ’s all-encompassing righteousness is our only hope as we rapidly come to the close of this earth’s history. Make no mistake about it, Jesus is coming soon! The events taking place around us point to the fulfillment of the prophecies in Daniel, Matthew, and Revelation. Everything seems to be shaking ….
Explanation: Why Anonymous?
This poll is purposely designed to be anonymous. It's about the content and not about who have written the analyses. The initiators are not a "contra band movement." It would be too easy to frame them as such. They want an open and conscientious discussion on a highly amendable policy vision and not on the functioning of the Union leaders or individuals. They are a group of concerned brothers and sisters that cannot stay silent see: 1 Sam 14:24-30.Rick Warren and the Mystic Daniel Plan
On January 7 and 13, 2011, Rick Warren announced on his website the launch of the Daniel Plan. A plan in which Medical professionals will share how to get healthy for life.
Rick Warren writes: “I can’t tell you how excited I am about the Decade of Destiny and what’s coming up at Saddleback. Next weekend, we’re launching the Daniel Plan, a 52-week plan to help you become physically healthier.” He calls the Daniel plan Gods’ Prescription For Your Health and invites: “Be a part of this transformational debut to be a healthier you!” (http://saddleback.com/blogs/newsandviews/news--views-1711/)
Courteously say, NO
At the end of 2009 the Executive Committee of the NUC has constructed a policy paper on the future of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in the Netherlands. This policy is the implementation of the Council of Churches policy The aim is the way . The same template and structure and the EC has promised before the CoC that she would implement the policy in our Church.This public document – it was posted on the union website in the spring of 2010 – has been commented by the pastors and the boards of the local churches and it's has become final.
In 2011 50 concerned members presented an Open Letter to the EC about this policy paper and with a poll on this website (promiseministry) members could have a look into the policy and an analysis of the implications for our churches. More than 120 members were against the implementation but that number was too small to get it off the agenda at the Union Session meetings in 2012. Now we don't hear much, but it is being implemented alright.
The policy is very heavy to read, with a lot of philosophical discourses. Here you find a summary of the thorough Analysis of the content and why this policy is wrong for our church. You can also read why we choose for an Anonymous Poll.
More than 50 involved members presented their 12 theses for revival in the Seventh Day Adventist church in the Netherlands instead.
Thesis 1. The specific message of the Seventh Day Adventist Church is one full of hope and grace, and is utterly relevant for every man in this end time.
Thesis 2. As Seventh Day Adventists we don’t want to merge into the contemporary culture, but want to make a positive difference instead.
Thesis 3. The Seventh Day Adventist Church is the church of Jesus Christ, and she will remain steadfast until His second coming.
Thesis 4. It is not logic that elements outside our church define the Seventh Day Adventist Church and state a need for change to us.
Thesis 5. The Bible, with the prophetic counsels, is our only guide line and foundation of our faith, and the only source we want to draw from.
Thesis 6. Every method used in God’s work, must be firmly founded on God’s Word. We will denounce all that differs from that standard.
Thesis 7. God calls His people to ask Him for counsel and advise (Job 5:8,9). Compared to His insights the wisdom of this world is but foolishness (1Cor3:19).
Thesis 8. The Seventh Day Adventist Church in the Netherlands needs a revival by the in-living Holy Spirit, to answer God’s love and grace with obedience and virtue.
Thesis 9. Dutch Seventh Day Adventists want to give themselves by the inspiration of the Spirit for the building up of God’s Church, His bride, and by that fulfill the call of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in the world.
Thesis 10. Dutch Seventh Day Adventists want to take up the responsibility for their personal spiritual growth, that God’s love in Christ can be seen in what they do and what they don’t.
Thesis 11. Dutch Seventh Day Adventists want to give themselves for those who don’t know Jesus yet and they want to share God’s love and the unaltered truth in Christ with them.
Thesis 12. The Dutch Seventh Day Adventists don’t want to be divided and to dissociate themselves, but loyally, with all the other Seventh Day Adventists in the world, want to give heed to the call for revival from the leadership of the World Church.
From a thorough analysis and against the light of the above named theses, we advise the members and the churches in The Netherlands to courteously say NO to the policy The Community Church and to turn it down altogether. This sounds rather drastic. But HERE YOU READ WHY.
We call unto all church boards and all members, to speak out that we want to be revived and involved to go forward with material and methods we already have and that have proven itself: The Bible (see for instance Leviticus 19, Matthew 5-7), and Steps to Christ, Thoughts from the Mounts of Blessings, Christian Service of EG White.
Material as these have contributed to the successful growth of our beloved church from a group of 3,000 to a worldwide movement of more than 18 million adults. From the beginning the simple words of the Bible without philosophy have proved to be effective. If the counsels from writings as these are heeded, people will surely be drawn to Christ. That is what practice is teaching us. Then the distinctive message of the Seventh Day Adventist Church is heard and people are prepared for the soon coming of Christ. And, that is what every Seventh Day Adventist is longing for.
International Petition A Line in the Sand
The Remnant Online Ministry drafted and sent an Open Letter to the NAD and the TED with copies to the president and vice presidents of the General Conference.The issue is the rebellion of the majority of the delegates in those two Divisions to divert from the Statues of the World Church by deciding that they are eligible to appoint non ordained men as presidents of unions and conferences and ordain women as ministers.
HIGHER KNOWLEDGE or GREAT COURAGE?
The apostle exalted Christ before his brethren as the One by whom God had created all things and by whom He had wrought out their redemption. He declared that the hand that sustains the worlds in space, and holds in their orderly arrangements and tireless activity all things throughout the universe of God, is the hand that was nailed to the cross for them. "By Him were all things created," Paul wrote, "that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." [Col 1:21, 11 quoted.]The Promise
After Adam and Eve had believed the lies of satan, their future seemed hopelessly lost. They became wise, yes, to see that something had seriously changed in their relationship and in the creation around them. God stepped into their surroundings, just as He did every day since they were made, and He pledged to them the oath He made to Himself. He had a plan readymade and He promised Adam and Eve that this plan would be carried out in the smallest details.The Bible without a Creator God is a Worthless Book
Posted: 08-28-2016Updated: 07-02-2017
Those who find it difficult to accept Genesis 1 and 2, might as well toss the Bible in the waste paper basket, because God as Creator is THE ultimate character
Appendix explanation Twelve Theses
Thesis 1 -- The specific message of the Seventh Day Adventist Church is one full of hope and grace, and is utterly relevant for every man in this end timeThis policy document presents to us a languishing Church. A Seventh Day Adventist Church that is losing its significance for the majority of her members and for the world around us. If that is true, than it is a sad thing indeed, because we have so much that speaks on our behalf. We have the m o s t positive message of hope and mercy for the world. How can that be irrelevant?
Where is Heaven?
Posted 09-14-2016On account of the text in Matthew 5:5 - Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth, I found this beautiful explanation in Strongs Concordance.
PSALMS - studie guide for small groups
For those who would like to have a beautiful introduction to the Psalms.Share!
A study guide for small groups.
Analysis of The Community Church
It says: 2The policy of the Dutch Union wants to present in the first place a Biblical vision on what the Church ought to be (p.5), …. and give an answer as to how diversity in the church can get a basis in believes, personal life and divine service, and how we can be more involved in the communities we are part of (p.1).
But the arguments for change are not taken from the Bible, but are taken from the world. Besides, the Seventh Day Adventist Church does not have to be reinvented. It is already well established what the Seventh Day Adventist Church is and ought to be.
Answer to the condition of the church
We had a bewildering period in our church before. The Alpha apostasy. A period when men brought in their own human opinions. When the appearance of the church was of more interest then proclaiming the true message of God's love, obedience, righteousness and judgment. Read Omega II - God’s Church at the brink by Lewis R. Walton. We were told that a Omega apostasy would come.Different Talents
Different Talents Are Needed in the Ministry - Manuscript Releases, Vol. 15, p. 214 Read more …"Elder Haskell and Elder J could have been a wonderful power for good in New York City. But they failed to unite and draw together.
Elder J is impulsive, and he often treats church members as if they were school children. Then when his authority is questioned, he loses control of himself, and a tornado of angry words falls from his lips.