Some claim we must stick with the [General Conference] Seventh-day
Adventist Church because they feel it is the only [SDA] organization
allowed to exist [with God's blessing]. You know the quote:
"The Lord has declared that the history of the past shall be rehearsed
as we enter upon the closing work. Every truth that He has given for
these last days is to be proclaimed to the world. Every pillar that He
has established is to be strengthened. We cannot now [1905] step off
the foundation that God has established.
We cannot now [1905]
enter into any new organization; for this would mean apostasy from the
truth." Selected Messages, vol. 2, p. 390.
But, the SOP [Spirit of Prophecy, or Ellen G. White's works], a year
earlier [October, 1903], explains the context of what this
"new" organization
means.
"The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great
reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that
this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand
as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of
reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result?
The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the
remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed.
The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last
fifty years would be accounted as error. A new
organization would be
established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of
intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders of this
system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath
of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it.
Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement.
The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but
God being removed, they would place their
dependence on human power [such as protecting their corporate wealth
with a trademark], which, without God, is worthless.
Their foundation would
be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the
structure." Selected Messages, vol. 1, pp. 204, 205.
This is exactly what the large body [General Conference of Seventh-day
Adventists] has done, has it not?
Vennita Marcussen, Letter: November 17, 1997
P.O. Box 78273
Nashville, TN 37207-8273
(All brackets, emphases, and font colors supplied by web publisher.)