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Top 3 Mistakes to Avoid When Sharing Prophecy — 139 Comments

  1. Thank you for waking me up to a better understanding of what being a "Christ follower" is all about! Embracing a more balanced approach to the command to love my neighbor as Christ loves! The Pope is my neighbor! Now the question remains "how do I love my church members"? Especially those who act like the Antichrist instead of the "for-christ"?

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    • I must love my neigbour as I love myself, this the fundamental law. Jesus is our role model in how to love my church members ( my neighbour ). Preaching of Jesus loves.

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    • Jesus went to the cross loving and praying for His enemies. This article has truly helped me to redirect my thoughts! We serve a Good GOD.
      THANKS!!!

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    • Finally, we can't change the prophesy. We then ougt to change our blameful minds and concentrate on what the Lord has legalised !

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  2. Only Jesus Christ has to be the central focus. Learn Jesus Christ, not Antichrist and abide in the doctrines of Christ not Antichrist. Anything that contradicts the scriptures its not from God.

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    • One of the doctrines of Christ is about Antichrist. What was Jesus talking about when he warned the disciples, and us: "23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
      24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect25 Behold, I have told you before.
      26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not." Mathew 24:23-26.

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      • i do agree with what you have said Troy.
        all in the bible, it is talked about the great controversy-great controversy between Christ and Satan, between Good and Evil. it is the same bible which tell us about the Anti-christ, and this is none other than Pope. the bible identifies the roman pope as the one who has been given all the power and authority of satan, to execute God's people. me is think no one is there to shut -up other people mouth concerning the truth they have learnt in the bible. Let them speak.This will-you never no- alert number of people to follow the truth

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  3. Exaggerated truth is a lie just like understated truth. Mathew 24:24-25. This partly explains our failing witness. Rev 22:18-20

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  4. I have seen many people change, almost overnight, from focusing on conspiracy theories. I myself was bombarded with them by a close relative until I almost lost my mind.... I was afraid of everyone and everything! It took several years to recover. Thank you for this reading. God bless you!

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  5. Jesus warned us - do not be deceived there will be false Christs and prophets, not everyone who says Lord, Lord will be saved.
    How can I make sure I am not deceived? By immersing myself in the truth, by developing a loving trusting relationship with Jesus, relying on Him to change me, to provide and protect me.
    Test all information against the Word, especially those that appeal to our senses, remember that on Mt Carmel fire came down on Jehovah's alter, and at Pentecost fire came down on the 120 but at the end Satan will deceive by what appears to be fire from heaven.
    Lift up Jesus and Him crucified for our sins and all people will be drawn to Him. Anyone who denies this is anti-christ.

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  6. Christ says,"if I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto myself". We need to keep lifting up christ as paul did at every opportunity and our prophetic messages should be christ centered lest we fall into a similar fate that befell the scribes and pharisies. We should be aware however that some of the commentaries are initiated by schemers but the beloved of the Lord have fallen for it and are quick to circulate falsehood and heresy. There are wolves on social media, beware.

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  7. When we exaggerate our neighbour's evil, we're like our neighbour who speaks a little fraction of the whole truth.

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  8. Thank you very much for the article. It is important to realize that sometimes we miss the point maybe because of our prejudice or what we have learned before.
    How ever i want to disagree in love. You have missed the point, not only that, your article is very misleading and contrary to the book GC The papacy is just what prophecy declared that she would be, the apostasy of the latter times. 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4. It is a part of her policy to assume the character which will best accomplish her purpose; but beneath the variable appearance of the chameleon she conceals the invariable venom of the serpent. "Faith ought not to be kept with heretics, nor persons suspected of heresy" (Lenfant, volume 1, page 516), she declares. Shall this power, whose record for a thousand years is written in the blood of the saints, be now acknowledged as a part of the church of Christ? {GC 571.2} It is not without reason that the claim has been put forth in Protestant countries that Catholicism differs less widely from Protestantism than in former times. There has been a change; but the change is not in the papacy. Catholicism indeed resembles much of the Protestantism that now exists, because Protestantism has so greatly degenerated since the days of the Reformers. {GC 571.3}
    To suggest that something is good from this system is contrary to the word of God and it is proper liberalism which is ernemity with God.
    When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result. {Mar 194.5}
    The Scriptures teach that popery is to regain its lost supremacy, and that the fires of persecution will be rekindled through the time-serving concessions of the so-called Protestant world. In this time of peril we can stand only as we have the truth and the power of God. . . . The prospect of being brought into personal danger and distress, need not cause despondency, but should quicken the vigor and hopes of God's people; for the time of their peril is the season for God to grant them clearer manifestations of his power. {Mar 194.6}
    What happen in the USA is a sign that the USA is sinking and shifting from her true foundation and the process of image of the beast formation is almost complete. Soon the USA will change her constitution and become a true persecuting power.
    When the early church became corrupted by departing from the simplicity of the gospel and accepting heathen rites and customs, she lost the Spirit and power of God; and in order to control the consciences of the people, she sought the support of the secular power. The result was the papacy, a church that controlled the power of the state and employed it to further her own ends, especially for the punishment of "heresy." In order for the United States to form an image of the beast, the religious power must so control the civil government that the authority of the state will also be employed by the church to accomplish her own ends. {GC 443.2}

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    • Hello Kidzai! Thank you for your comment. I must admit though, that I am a bit confused. I summarize this entire article in the conclusion stating "I wholeheartedly embrace the Reformers’ historicist interpretation of Daniel and Revelation. I am all for giving the warning. I am all for preaching final events. But it can never be done via false accusations, hateful rhetoric, or a continual thirst for more anti-papacy discourses which leave the avenues of our souls wide open to the dangers of apocalyptic paranoia."

      I am curious as to which part of this you disagree with? I dont disagree with anything you said above and believe that we should warn the world about these things. My contention is that while we ought to warn the world it cannot be done via "false accusations, hateful rhetoric, or an imbalanced apocalyptic narrative (what I refer to as 'a continual thirst for more')".

      So again I ask, which part of this do you disagree with?

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      • It is not hateful to call the pope the Antichrist. Like you said, that has been identified in God's word. So to say it is hateful is confusing to me. You also said it is bearing false witness to say the pope said Christ's death is a failure. That is exactly what he said. Humanly speaking, if you understand Christ's mission, it was not a failure. He perfectly showed the world and the whole universe that it is possible to keep the law and live without sin. His death made it possible for all who love Him to have eternal life. Thats not even a failure "humanly speaking". Also, we don't love to hear more and more about the Antichrist, it's just truth, the Antichrist has been in this country for almost a week fulfilling bible prophecy, and tI'm is almost finished. What we really love is that Jesus is coming very soon!!!

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    • Yes, l learned that it is impotant to know that we know, what we know, but what we know should be presented in a loving manner trying to save the lost. We need to be wise as a serpent, and harmless as a dove. God is in control. He is woking it out.

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    • Points taken but we need to lovingly draw people to Christ and feed them with 'milk' then we can introduce 'hard food'. The most important thing is to preach the gospel to all the world as a witness. It has to be done effectively and God's Holy Spirit will do His work in the lives of those fruits of our labor.

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      • i do agree with you!we have by all means preach the Word of God.in preaching the WORD you can not end up without touching the antichrist; and a good thing is that Jesus himself mentioned him several times in the bible

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    • Amen. Thank you for bringing much needed balance. I truly appreciate the message from the article writer about being loving even when we share prophecy. I however disagree that our view of the papacy with its current head as Pope Francis must change because all of a sudden the good that is being done by the Roman Catholic system must overshadow their real character. I also emphatically and humbly disagree that we don't know who the Antichrist is. The Bible in Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 and 18 clearly tells us that the Roman Catholic system is the Antichrist. with that there is not to be any shadow of doubt but again it is true we must never lose sight that Prophecy must help us behold the bright and morning star. 2 Peter 1: 19 tells we would do well to take heed to prophecy so that Jesus may arise in our hearts(Revelation 22:16 He is the morning star). Therefore the ultimate goal of Prophecy is to lead us away from loving or aligning ourself with anything that opposes God and align ourselves with everything that exalts Him. This is why the admonition of Revelation 13: 8 says all the world wondered after the beast(Admired and followed Catholicism) except those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

      I will also point out that we are encouraged to agitate and agitate over this subject so that we may get the attention of the whole world for during this time the papacy is receiving such favour before people's eyes that the history is forgotten, which is history is about to be repeated (Revelation 13:15-18). Therefore this is the time when we are to point people to Jesus as revealed in Revelation and tell them that in Love Jesus has revealed things which they need to take seriously. (DEut. 29:29) so that people may be led to worship God in truth and in Spirit. I am not advocating for a misinterpreted application of prophecy or deception but that we may hold everything in truth and follow what God counsels us to do.

      It would do well that our articles be filled with Present truth. The People are longing for the real gold not the dross they have been erelong sold. It is our Christian duty to warn people about the Mark of the beast especially since in the encyclical of Pope Francis on Climate change one of the tenets proposed which is repetition of their long held doctrine that one of the ways in which we can help the planet is to go back to sunday sacredness and rest on sunday to allow the earth to rest as well. There is no way then we can keep quiet for we now as of certainty that the Papacy even through its spokesperson the pope is advocating its dogmas. In Fact what is happening should come as no surprise. (From Antichrist to Brother in Christ: How Protestant Pastors View the Pope) because everything is being fulfilled as has been foretold. Shall we then keep silence about he true identity of the papacy while all this is happening? God forbid. We are to sound the trumpet and warn the world but we are to give it the special sound and that sound differs from every other perspective held by evangelicals.

      I trust I will also not be misunderstood as advocating for deception in order to advance truth NO, but I submit that we must do everything in truth and in Love and not stop warning people about the papacy for at this time she is amassing so much fame that in the not so distant future our religious liberty will be taken away and all the freedom of sharing this truth will be taken away

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  9. I would point out that the words antichrist is not found in Revelation. It is found solely in 1John 2:18,22, 1john 4:3 and 2John 7. None refer to the papacy. Only those that deny that Jesus is the Christ are identified as antichrist. Verse 18 says that there are many antichrists. So what martin Luther said may not be accurate. Martin Luther also said that Jews were the feces of the devil, which they wallow in like swine, and many other hateful opinions. Luther was noted for his stand against indulgences for sin. The one that is the most noted antichrist is, Satan.

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    • @Paul Blanke...some of Luther's opinions simply demonstrate that he was guilty of committing some of the errors that Torres just warned us about. But that alone does not disqualify Luther's conclusions about the identity of the antichrist power.

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      • Amando, Luther's opinion was not based on any specific Bible text, including hating Jews. If you have one, I would be interested. I am not trying to besmirch a christian martyr. He deserves all the admiration due him, even though he can't appreciate it. The point is, what some read into a subject, based on what is represented as fact, needs to have substantiating proof.

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        • Paul....regardless of the fact that "antichrist" in 1st and 2nd John does not directly refer specifically to the papacy (because they are not in the context of Revelation's and Daniel's indentifying characterstics) the term fits the papacy because of its definition. The "antee" (Greek) part of the term means "opposite of" or "instead of. In composition, it is often used to denote "substitution". It fits the papacy. Keep in mind also numerous quotes from the Catholic church leaders who refer to the pope as another God on earth, etc.

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  10. Thank you. Rome and the Pope are doing what they a supposed to be doing, the question is am I?
    Pascal said something to the effect that 'people believe what they find attractive', negative is not attractive. The Creator is attractive, if He is lifted up that will be enough.

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  11. Whereas I do endorse the statements you have made, how do I let my neighbours know that the papacy is Anti-Christ according to the Bible? Yes, I should be loving, truthful and fair in my dealings with others but the Bible tells us that the whole wonders after the beast. I should let my brethren and others know that prophecy is being fulfilled. Yes, Pope Francis has great PR and is accomplishing much through social action. The Catholics always accomplish much through social action but how can I warn my brethren, friends and strangers that the focus is on Jesus and Him crucified and not on a man whose religious system exalts him to the position that Christ ought to occupy in our lives and in our witness. Based on what Pope Francis is doing, it will be challenging to preach what Revelation 13 is saying. It ought not to be overlooked that he is the first Jesuit priest elevated to that position. May we continue to preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified but present the truth as Jeremiah was commanded to do without fear.

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    • Hello Dolice! As you recall, I mentioned that how I do it is still something I am figuring out. At the moment I know what I cannot do and that is what I have shared in this article. How I do it I suspect is more complex. Context and circumstances are always changing so the way in which we give the warning will always be changing as well. However, i am convinced that so long as we are being authentic and honest, speaking the truth in humility and love, and keeping Jesus at the center of it all we cannot go wrong.

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    • Why do you feel it is necessary to "let my neighbours know that the papacy is Anti-Christ according to the Bible"?

      I suspect that the clearest description of the Antichrist in the Bible is found in 2 Thess 2:7-10. There Paul refers to "the lawless one." Sometimes we refer to the Antichrist as the "beast" of Revelation.

      It seems to me that anyone telling lies about Christ and/or presuming to stand between Christ and His people would be doing the work of the Antichrist, and at this point in time I'm far more concerned about Antichrist tendencies in my own church.

      Here are some I have noted:
      We fault the RC church for a system of priests who stand between Christ and believers. Yet in the last couple of years I have seen/heard high-profile leaders of independent ministries teach that pastors are the New Testament version of the OT priesthood. The teaching is that pastors have "spiritual authority" over members. That seems like a "beastly" teaching, since Paul clearly teaches that we have direct access to the Father, according to the New Covenant promise of Jer 31:34.

      Likewise, I have heard the same high-profile preachers teach that the church is a hierarchy, which puts the GC President at the top, with various leadership levels below, and in the local congregation, the pastor has spiritual authority over the congregation, and the men have spiritual authority over the women. That is similar to the previous teaching and sounds quite "beastly" to me.

      By contrast, Christ taught that His followers should not seek high positions, and they should not even seek to be called "Rabbi" (similar to Teacher, Pastor, Elder). See Luke 14:10, Matt 20:25-27, 1 Peter 5:5 )

      It seems to me that we had best do our "watching" to be ready for His Coming by doing just what Jesus told us to do - to preach the Good News to all the world (Mark 16:15-16), because when that work is finished, He will come again (Matt 24:14). He also told us that if we lift Him up, He will draw all to Him. (John 12:32) And He said people will know we are His disciples if we love one another. (John 13:35)

      How does this relate to the "Antichrist"? Well, it seems to me that the religious leaders of Christ's day were the "Antichrists" of His day, because they inserted themselves between the people and God and professed to have spiritual authority over them. Yet Christ did not spend His ministry preaching against them. Instead, He taught and demonstrated love, healed the sick and raised the dead. It was only at the very end of His ministry that He uttered some scathing rebukes against them to show the people that it was not safe to follow these false leaders.

      Christ demonstrated that falsehood is best unmasked by demonstrating the truth. And I believe that Babylon will be unmasked through the Christ-like lives of God's people. If we carry out the command to "preach the gospel," Christ will show us when some words about "Babylon" are necessary. In the meantime, let us remember that the message of the Three Angels is founded on the Everlasting Gospel. (Rev 14:6) Letting neighbors know "that the papacy is Anti-Christ according to the Bible" will save no one. Wherever did we get the idea that it would?

      The message that "Babylon is fallen" will become clear enough when God's people live like Christ. That message is totally worthless without such a demonstration.

      Marcos rightly points out that there has been too much "thirst for more beast and more Antichrist." If we would thirst more for Christ, our lives would be transformed, and the contrast between the lives of the followers of Christ and Babylon would be so clear that the whole world would notice. Or so it seems to me ...

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    • Our commission is to let people know who Christ is and how he relates to us. A focus on telling others that they are wrong is often detrimental to sharing the good news of the Gospel.

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    • If your neighbours know for a certainty, that the papacy is the Anti-Christ, how is that going to save them? John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
      How does that information translate into knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ?
      The visit of Pope Francis is very topical at the moment. Maybe as an opener you could ask: How do you view the visit of Pope Francis? Or something similar.
      From that you may state: Did you know the Bible has much to say about the times we are living in? Would you like to know what the Bible says?
      But you need to be well prepared.
      The Bible says in 1 Peter 3:15 to be ready to give an answer to all that ask the reason for your hope, with meekness and fear. Also 2 Timothy 2:15 says we need to ... Study to show ourselves approved - so we know how to rightly divide the word of truth.
      Also you need to know and understand that the Beast and False Prophet refer not to individuals but to Political / Religious powers. To judge the current Pope as the Antichrist is to judge too early. Our job is to reach out in love regardless of our opinion of the person - just the same as Jesus showed love to Judas - at the same time knowing he was the one who was going to betray him into the hands of the Political and Religious authorities of the day.
      May God bless you as you seek to win others to the Lord Jesus Christ.

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    • The description in the Bible is enough to preach to the world without mentioning names. The same way we came to understand all these through scriptural lens, the same way when we do a critical analysis of the text, and with prayer, people will not submit their conscience to godless or Christless authorities. I hope this helps.

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  12. Thanks for this article, I do think some of us are stretching to find the end time prophecy in every event that takes place and in doing so we become caught up in a frenzy and forget our real goal of showing Jesus and him crucified to a dying world. Witnessing is a command given to us by Jesus himself, we need to educate and warn people about the coming deluge and we need to do this effectively. When one is educated about the genuine then the counterfeit will be known. We do not have to call names and point fingers. The antichrist will be known to us if we know Christ. By their fruits you will know them.
    May The Good Lord help us to do His will and gather the other sheep to His fold of safety.

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    • Ellen White wrote 12 years after the first Great Controversy book was published in 1884:

      “There is need of a much closer study of the word of God; especially should Daniel and the Revelation have attention as never before in the history of our work. We may have less to say in some lines, in regard to the Roman power and the papacy, but we should call attention to what the prophets and apostles have written under the inspiration of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit has so shaped matters, both in the giving of the prophecy, and in the events portrayed, as to teach that the human agent is to be kept out of sight, hid in Christ, and the Lord God of heaven and His law are to be exalted” (Letter 57, 1896 REF:. Counsels to Writers and Editors, p. 65).

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  13. I think, the whole dicussion is moving towards clarification of the issue. Studying Daniel and Revelation together with past and present history will clarify as to how and where the beast emerges in history, how the image is formed and what is to be expected with the mark of the beast in the last day events.

    We are talking about history in the light of prophecy. It is certainly correct to avoid judgement about persons, as we believe in the investigative judgment with the highest judge on the judgment throne. Is is to be noted that Daniel and Revelation is putting Antichrist and Christ, Good and Evil, in opposistion in order for the reader to make a decision. Both sides are to be presented, otherwise the presentation of Daniel and Revelation would be one sided.

    Winfried Stolpmann

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  14. You see what? Let's not make the sharp two edged sword-the word of God - blunt! Why are we trying to marry the papacy? Let's open the people's eyes.

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    • Who is trying to marry the Papacy? Is avoiding false accusations, hateful rhetoric, and an imbalanced apocalyptic narrative marrying the Papacy? Would it be better if we spread false rumors, used the most hateful words possible, and removed Christ from the center of prophecy? I suspect to do the latter would qualify as marrying the papacy much more than doing the former.

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  15. I really wish every Adventist could read this. Its even annoying now. People can't even focus on their salvation except monitoring what the pope is doing or his followers.

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  16. How do you preach 3 Angels message without mentioning the pope especial the current events? Yes it is true we need not to lie or exaggerate things.

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    • Not possible Shadrack! We must mention the Pope and current events. They are relevant and part of prophecy. What we must avoid is, as you said, lying and exaggerating.

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  17. the greatest challenge for the disciples was to preach that,` the Jesus whom you crucified is the Christ` to the pple who had crucified him. Jesus had told them to tarry till the holy spirit comes and through/by him they were qualified to be a witness despite all the odds associated with delivery as we all know.

    I believe that Jesus says the same to us, to tarry till he,the holy spirit comes and he will,through us and by us proclaim the prophecies. knowledge of the prophecies without the spirit of the prophecies would be injurious to the cause. the spirit of god is creative enough to give the balance that is needed. he supplies the love that attracts the soul to a seemingly repulsive message. Jesus says in john, `when he,the spirit comes, he will not only lead into the truth but convict the world of sin.`

    at Pentecost, led of the holy ghost and in the shadow of persecution peter delivered the most compelling gospel and lo and behold 3 000 souls were converted. Stephen also, bathing in both his own blood and the holy ghost delivered a straight message and converted Saul into Paul.

    I believe those who sense the urge to proclaim these prophecies must like wise, tarry at the holy ghost. he , the holy spirit will transform us first into better vessels of such a grandeur message. revelation 18 v 1-5 clearly shows that with the holy spirit in control, the loud cry would overshadow/overpower the papal proclamations of Sunday laws. ` the whole world was enlightened by his glory`, surely ,no ordinary human feat/intelligence, shenanigans can accomplish that. let us humbly surrender to the spirit and he will enable us .

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  18. I can not believe it. We know that we must to love our neighbor, but we do not have to be agree with them. Even the bible says, the antichrist will be transform himself like the angel to be deceive. If you are Adventist Did you read Rev. 13 and 14? We know that we do not agree with the pope, it does not mean we do not love him. Additionally, we do not agree his systems, the mission of Jesuits. Give me a break. Thinking about, boy Remember Rev, 22:20-22.

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    • You are right Rachel, there is no way that you can learn from the deceiver, no and no at all. let us learn from Jesus Christ and not anti-christ.

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  19. [Moderator’s note: Captialized sections have been converted to lowercase. There is a convention that captialization is equivalent to shouting. Such emphasis is avoided in normal conversation and has no place in a Christian Blog either. You are welcome to disagree with the writer but do it as in a conversation with a friend,]

    I think you have put a lot of emotion speaking positive of the pope...
    The "vicar of Christ". I don't see how i may be made to reason with one who sees themselves as the representation of our saviour here on earth.
    The devil too, the bible says, may come in sheep skin. Are we to accept the deceptive "innocence"?
    My brother, i will call a spade a spade (not a big spoon),
    Speaking or standing for some seemingly positive values will never make the devil or his representatives acceptable. I support your arguments for sticking to scriptural truths, but i reject you using them to speak for the pope. "vicar of Christ"
    God forbid!

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    • Bekilizwe I think you have misunderstood me. I did not invest any energy into speaking positively of the Pope. All I said was that when we warn the world of end time prophecy we should avoid false accusations, hateful language, and an imbalanced approach to prophecy. At no point did I speak for, or attempt to defend, the Pope.

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  20. I totally agree with the first two points. However, I think your final point is problematic. While we certainly shouldn't be obsessed with finding evil in every gesture the pope makes I don't think we should be writing glowing articles about him either. I'm sure that the Klu Klux Klan has nice people in it who like to bake pies and pet puppies. But, as an African-American I would never use the Klan or any of its members as a model for others behavior. It doesn't matter how long it's been since they last raped, lynched or burned an innocent person. The fact is that the Klan still abides by the principles that lead to the inhuman treatment of blacks. The same is true for the papacy. Francis may be a nice guy who does nice things, even things some Adventist should do, but he should never be pointed to as a model for behavior anymore than the grand high wizard of the KKK. The Papacy still stands by the teachings that killed hundreds and thousands of people in the past. Whatever "good" he does can be taught from the Bible without using him as an example.

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    • Hello Bensheh! Thank you for your comment. To clarify, I did not say that we should look to the Pope as a model of behavior. My point was simply that the Pope's focus on social action is something we can all take note of. This is much different from saying he is a model of behavior. If a KKK leader was doing more acts of mercy for the community than the church I would tell the church to take note as well. That doesn't mean they have to make this man their role model. So I am not suggesting that we make the Pope our example. All I was suggesting was that it is possible to have a civilized conversation on the Pope's acts of mercy without denying the warnings prophecy gives us regarding the papacy's end time agenda.

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  21. I am happy for the timely article, too much hate and head bashes by us SDA and what a shame. Last week I shared that there was too much positives than negatives of prophecy but Christ as the central theme and focus. I admire the Pope and how he has won over the rest of Protestantism and very successfully. How about us have we done so? I beg to differ we are just seen as dysfunctional citizens of our various countries and I bet you the Lord Jesus Christ is more shamed by us then we thought otherwise. Let us preach the Eternal Gospel and when you do personal bible studies or evangelistic series that negatives of prophecy will come but it is only a fraction of the Eternal Gospel in its verity. Lets stop fooling ourselves by showing our hypocritical, negativity, pessimistic, dysfunctional character. Sure we can do better than this, it is a shameful moment for us Seventh Day Adventist. Most Bible workers, missionaries and evangelist would agree with me (Hope so?) that we should go on with Pro Active dissemination of the message at its wholistic and totality and not reactive disgruntled messengers. Jesus never mentioned Judas to the disciples by name he just showed them signs and so is Revelation, so Anti-Christ has not yet revealed though I know it would be papacy but the time has not come for the Second Beast to decree the Mark of the First Beast the Sunday Law and finally the Death decree. So we should hold our zealous to name calling, but stop public outcry of something that is in the very near future or at the doorstep and just continue to do person to person sharing the Eternal Gospel which would make angels and saints joyful especially the Lord of the Gospel. Thank you for the timely rebuke to our stupid childish rants and immature negativity.

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  22. Balance and loving kindness, it is not what you say that is the problem but how you say it. As SDA's our mission is the 3 angels message, we must start with 1 and then 2 and only then 3.

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  23. Some Ellen White comments to aid our conversation:

    Regarding the Catholics—Brethren, I feel hurt when I see that so many decided thrusts are made against the Catholics. Preach the truth, but restrain the words which show a harsh spirit; for such words cannot help or enlighten anyone. The Echo is a paper that should be circulated largely. Do not do anything that would hinder its sale. There is no reason why it should not be as a light shining in a dark place. But for Christ’s sake heed the admonitions which have been given in regard to making scathing remarks about the Catholics. Many Catholics read the Echo, and among the number there are honest souls who will accept the truth. But there is such a thing as shutting the door in their faces as they are about to enter. White, E. G. (1946). Counsels to Writers and Editors (pp. 64–65). Southern Publishing Association.

    No Condemnatory Articles—The light which I have to give to our people is, Let no condemnatory speeches be printed in our papers. A large number of precious souls are groping in darkness, yet longing and weeping and praying for light. Thus it is in churches everywhere.—Manuscript 46, 1900.

    No Gall.—Every article you write may be all truth, but one drop of gall in it will be poison to the reader. One reader will discard all your good and acceptable words because of that drop of poison. Another will feed on the poison, for he loves such harsh words.—Letter 91, 1899

    If a man has tact, industry, and enthusiasm, he will make a success in temporal business, and the same qualities, consecrated to the work of God, will prove even doubly efficient; for divine power will be combined with human effort.-- Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 276. {ChS 231.1}

    In the work of soul-winning, great tact and wisdom are needed. The Saviour never suppressed the truth, but He uttered it always in love. In His intercourse with others, He exercised the greatest tact, and He was always kind and thoughtful. He was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave unnecessary pain to a sensitive soul. He did not censure human weakness. He fearlessly denounced hypocrisy, unbelief, and iniquity, but tears were in His voice as He uttered His scathing rebukes. He never made truth cruel, but ever manifested a deep tenderness for humanity. Every soul was precious in His sight. He bore Himself with divine dignity; yet He bowed with the tenderest compassion and regard to every member of the family of God. He saw in all, souls whom it was His mission to save.--Gospel Workers, p. 117. {ChS 231.2}

    Some rash, impulsive, yet honest souls, after a pointed discourse has been given, will accost those who are not with us in a very abrupt manner, and make the truth, which we desire them to receive, repulsive to them. "The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light." Business men and politicians study courtesy. It is their policy to make themselves as attractive as possible. They study to render their address and manners such that they may have the greatest influence over the minds of those about them. They use their knowledge and abilities as skillfully as possible in order to gain this object.--Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 68. {ChS 231.3}

    This message must be given, but while it must be given, we should be careful not to thrust and crowd and condemn those who have not the light that we have. We should not go out of our way to make hard thrusts at the Catholics. Among the Catholics there are many who are most conscientious Christians, and who walk in all the light that shines upon them, and God will work in their behalf.--Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 243.

    (13)
    • Note that those quotes are talking about "the Catholics". Members who are following all the light they have. It's hard to accept that the HEAD of the Catholic church doesn't know it's agenda--to deceive.
      It's the same way that Jesus dealt with the people who look to the Jewish leaders for guidance. His sympathies were with them but the leaders He called "whitened sepulchers".

      (4)
      • Ray, I don't think the example of Christ gives us any excuse to condemn even those persons who are heads of other churches. If you will check the timing of Christ's scathing rebukes of the church leadership, he saved these until just before His crucifixion - very likely for the benefit of the people who were still looking to the Pharisees as spiritual leaders. Until that time He still appealed to them.

        Yes, it is even possible for someone in the position of pope to be honest in wanting to follow the example of Christ. We need to leave the reading of the heart to God Himself.

        But there's a very practical aspect to Ellen White's counsel as applicable to the current circumstance: What picture do we give of our message when we condemn a person who is known for going about doing good, just as Jesus did, even though it endangers his own person? And we "preach the truth" by condemnation and invective?!

        In my own words I have previously said what I believe the Three Angels messages to be: I believe it to be a final demonstration of the character of Christ in His people that will, by contrast, unmask the evils of Babylon. But here's the way Ellen White put it:

        Several have written to me, inquiring if the message of justification by faith is the third angel’s message, and I have answered, “It is the third angel’s message in verity.”—The Review and Herald, April 1, 1890. {Ev 190.3}
        This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family. All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent. This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel’s message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure. (Evangelism p 190)

        (0)
        • Then how do you understand this statement:
          "The papacy *is* just what prophecy declared that she would be, the apostasy of the latter times. 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4. It is a part of her policy to assume the character which will best accomplish her purpose; but beneath the variable appearance of the chameleon she conceals the invariable venom of the serpent. “Faith ought not to be kept with heretics, nor persons suspected of heresy” (Lenfant, volume 1, page 516), she declares. Shall this power, whose record for a thousand years is written in the blood of the saints, be now acknowledged as a part of the church of Christ? GC 571

          So I beg to disagree.

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  24. Thank you for this timely article. It is sad when Christians run with a statement without checking the facts. I too hold the position of the reformers. However when Pope Francis said the cross and Jesus were a complete failure, I totally agree with him. Jeremiah and Noah would also be in the same category according to modern thinking. Abraham - father of Faith - how can I trust him - he made so many mistakes. But that is only as we view them from a worldly point of view - which is the view that Pope Francis espoused.
    Where is the Christian love in all this anti Pope Francis speech? The disciples were clueless as to the real identity and purpose of Judas. Who is it Lord? they asked. Jesus completely hid the real identity of Judas with outstanding acts of kindness and love. Will the true followers of Jesus please stand up!
    Read your Bible please. The Beast and the Antichrist and False Prophet represent political/religious systems, not individual persons. To assign names is to judge before the appointed time. Revelation 19:20 refers to the Beast and the False Prophet being cast alive into the lake of fire. This is before the final judgement of all souls, so it clearly refers to active Political/Religious powers being destroyed.
    Sadly it happens even in the best publications. A study Bible of mine quotes Origen as saying .."only God knows for certain who wrote Hebrews." Check it out for yourself - that is a very poor misquote attempting to have the last say on a particular point of view.

    (7)
  25. All though this sound reasonable but u don't put it in public like this because you are pulling down the same work we are trying to uplift making people know where we stand today in prophecy and the soon coming of our lord better talk about it at church level.

    (1)
    • How am I pulling down the work? If I am please tell me as I would hate to do something so terrible. No my friend, I am promoting our work. All I suggest is that we avoid false accusations, hateful language, and that we remember Christ is at the center of prophecy not the Pope.

      (4)
  26. I wonder how many of us have good Roman Catholic friends. I would hate talk to my Catholic friends in the manner that some respondents are suggesting. And I have had some wonderful conversations with some of them about Jesus. We should never let our perceptions of an institution get in the way of a good friendship in Jesus.

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  27. Thank you Marcos for the article. It was balanced and biblical. Too many Adventist are quick to point out the evils of the pope and miss the beauty of Christ. Which one do you thinl will attract people to the gospel ?

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  28. If I were to choose my church denomination on practical meeting the needs of people as foremost irrespective of other biblical doctrines, I am sorry I would be an automatic Catholic church member on these grounds;
    1). They have the most Elderly Home in the South Pacific Islands.
    2). They have the most children's Home in the South Pacific Islands, and probably the second would be the Church of England.
    3). They are the most lovable people South Pacific Islands I have ever met and known for sure.
    4). They join a lot of rotary clubs and form most charitable organization in the South Pacific Islands.
    5). They transport SDA & other church denominations to their various churches on Sabbath or Sunday South Pacific Islands.
    6). They are members of social changes groups in the South Pacific Islands
    7). The Fathers or Priests join and lead community groups for Poverty Alleviation and other community development for poor and disadvantage.

    Therefore it would be best to restrain naive and judgmental comments and do our homework and work of meeting the needs of people first.

    However, having stated the above I will have to follow my faith based on the totality of the Sola Scriptura or Bible and Bible only thus I am an SDA and will remain an SDA until Jesus comes and try my best to meet the needs of the people first within my influence and encourage fellow SDA within my influence to take care of orphans and widows as stated by Saint James and maybe then publicly voice my judmental opinion. Let us pluck the log from our eyes then publicly judge the Pope and Catholics something not yet fulfilled in prophecy, of course I believe what the Little Horn and Mark of the Beast would be but it is yet in the very near future or at the door. But for the meantime I would stick to build bridge and do buddy evangelism than publicly ridiculing and judging the Pope and Catholics who are the most lovable Christians in the South Pacific Islands

    (3)
    • you are correct adelphos, but i think that we should not wait until something happens. let us tell our fellow human being today, so that when the prophecy will be fulfilled they will be able to discern and make the proper choice-Following the Lamb of God and not the Beast.
      We as Adventists, i think we were supposed to be doing better than other denominations, why? because we know the truth, and we were supposed to live it. meeting other people's needs in a lovable manner and not because we want to win them. only this is possible if we will be leading by the HOLY SPIRIT

      (0)
  29. Have read the article. Halfway through it, I thought it captured the ideas well but the last paragraphs betrayed it's true nature. It's unfortunate that those who are doing a work of warning the world are regarded as enemies of the truth. It's true that some are hasty n resort to unchristian means to expose the papacy but the article went to the opposite extreme of commending the social work pope Francis is doing n asking us to join in such a work. Social work is good but not the political kind that pope Francis does that leaves out Jesus n points the solution to man's problems to a man's solution. He forgets who the Jesuits are n how they work n he ignores what great controversy says that we should expose the man of sin that men may have knowledge to make right decisions

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    • Thank you for your comment Isaac. By way of clarification I never said we should join the papacy in any kind of work. All I said was that in the Popes focus for social justice we find something we - and all caring humans - can agree on. Does that mean we agree with the way he goes about it (via legislation etc.)? Of course not. Does this mean we should join hands with Rome? Of course not. Just thought I would clarify 🙂

      (1)
  30. We are living in last days, and as a true followers of Christ we cannot live short of proclaiming 3 Angels messages in all our ways of life....We must be like John The Baptist in the wildness, preparing the way for the mighty coming of our Lord! Quoting from E.G White “those who have learned of Christ….In speech as in life, they will be simple, straightforward and true; for they are preparing for the fellowship of those Holy ones in whose mouth was found no guile “MB 69
    The 1st Angel's message is so clear, the burner should be proclaimed...”God is the creator”, He is to be honored and the symbol for the same is the 7th day of the week, THE SABBATH. Tell the people, by words of your mouth and deeds. We have seen and heard what this pope has been saying on the same, very contrary to what the Bible says. Followers of Christ have to be bold, very lovingly of course, into warning the world on the matter; stop calling a spade a big spoon! I believe, sorry to say, cowards cannot fit the work.
    The 2nd Angel's message, the fall of Babylon, of which the true followers of Christ are called to proclaim is to be done in all facets of their lives. One should know for sure what, who and why is Babylon. I wonder my brother Marcos who has declared that “Truth is, we don’t know who the Antichrist is”! Whom is he serving! Is it true, the true followers of Christ do not know who the Antichrist is? What is Brother Marcos telling us? We have to wait because no one is fit to proclaim the 2nd Angel’s Message now? Please.
    How could the duty of warning people, the 3rd Angels massage, not to worship the beast, his image and his mark, be effective without knowing for sure of the beast, image and mark be possible! Brother Marcos!
    The True Christ followers can never be less than what their Master, Jesus Christ commanded them in words and deeds (Mathew 15:14) and it is Him who acted differently in different situations. We are HIS followers…..lets act and warn the world accordingly

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    • One issue I have with the focus on the Pope or Rome as Antichrist is that we lose our vision of Satan's attacks on us that are more likely to affect us now. The Catholic church is an easy target these days, particularly with its systemic failure to address sexual abuse in its own institutions.

      But spare a thought about how Satan attacks us by media manipulation, We listen to what we see and hear on Youtube and other live-stream sources rather than directly studying the Word of God ourselves. Satan is a master manipulator. He is happy for us to think that the Pope is Antichrist and once our focus is fixed on that, he can subtly attack us from other directions. Many of the great victories in war have been won by getting the enemy to fix their attention on one thing while attacking them from the place where they least expect it.

      I hear what some folk are saying in this discussion and I worry that we have lost our focus on Christ and his mission for us.

      (4)
  31. Hello Marcos, I agree fully that we must use no deception to expose deception. Only truth, spoken in love, in the Spirit of Christ. That said, I think there is a bit more to the phrase "the common" good used by Pope Francis than you realize. In his speech to our Congress, Pope Francis spoke six times about "the common good." Such as, "We must move forward together ... for the common good." Of interest is that the same phrase is used in the official 1994 Roman Catechism. On p. 528, it says, "“Sanctifying Sundays and holy days requires a common effort … In respecting the religious liberty and the common good of all, Christians should seek recognition of Sundays … as legal holidays.” Thus "the common good" is a highly strategic phrase used by Rome to eventually lead to Sunday laws--for the common good. This Pope is sharp. Revelation 13:16,17 will be fulfilled at some point, and it is up to us SDAs to sound the warning. Kindly, yes, but truthfully and boldly. God is depending on us. See 9T 19.

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    • Hey Steve! I think you summarized the point of my article well. While there are some points I share that I know are debatable the overall message of this article - to share the truth in love - is not debatable. Both the Bible and Ellen White call us to speak the truth in love, avoiding faulty arguments, pointed words, and remembering that Jesus is the center and fullness of prophecy and all it points to. As the only historicist church left on earth we alone have the capacity to sound the apocalyptic warning begun by the reformers. So yes! We must boldly proclaim this message in humility and love.

      (2)
  32. Hi Marcos, I have a question for you. When you do an evangelistic series, and you get to night 15, 18, 20, whatever night it is that you do the antichrist, Rev 13, Dan 7, the mark of the beast etc., I would be very interested to hear what you have to say. I would like my presentations of those subjects to be more Jesus centred. Appreciate the help.

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    • I believe that it is possible to describe the biblical principles of religious systems taken the place of Christ vividly without naming any particular system. Though it is fair to be thorough in revealing how systems in the accounts of history have acted just like the Bible describes. In that case the mentioning of the acts of the church of Rome has its rightful place. The warnings of the deception coming from the lamb-like creature ending up roaring against the people of God will be very clearly understood by most students of the Bible when they are guided to the understanding of using the principles of basic interpretation of the prophecies followed through from the book of Daniel all through the Revelation.
      Helping people to understand the basics will enable them to make their own conclusions without us being to ones pointing fingers all the time. The conclusion you have made by yourself through rational application of biblical truths is the strongest conviction of all. Understanding the true nature of Antichrist as the ones from every denominations, including SDA, who comes between Christ and his offering of forgiveness and love to every sinner, will enable the honest student of the Bible to steer away from every deception – being it the small ones from our daily living or the big ones from religious systems around the world.
      The free access to the love of God revealed in Christ should be our foremost teaching and is the key to understand how deceptive powers is acting against the message of Christ.

      (0)
    • Hi Dave! I am currently working on a new bible study series that explores Daniel and Revelation entirely from the cross. What I have discovered is that each of these prophecies lift Jesus up higher and higher. The series is not yet complete and wont be for another year, but if you visit pomopastor.com from time to time I will announce when they are ready 😀

      (0)
  33. Very good article that exposes our inside 7DA Pandora box:
    Our suspicious and scared spirit.
    Sometimes I perceived adventist prophecy like is just one of Conspiracy Theories.
    But, we see that prophecy is alive and well coming back. We would expect that papacy vanished by now, but is strangely resurrected.

    (1)
  34. As followers of Jesus,we should never value peace and harmony so much that we compromise our principles of truth. Everyone needs to know the times we living in whether they accept it or not.but ofcourse we should share it how God wants us to, cause we are not sharing it to point who's bad but to alert those living in the dark that the end is near. These are prophecies being fulfilled. Whether they mention God or not the papacy has not,is not and will never be on Gods side!blessed is the one who knows this for they will not be misled.Jesus wants us to preach the truth with love ,kindness. We are preaching to save souls not to show how much we know.

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    • Timale Banda, you are very right. we are not preaching the gospel to criticize other people. we are telling them the truth so that they can decide whom to serve. I can remember in the mount Carmel,Elijah asked people to choose the one who they wanted to serve-whether Baal or the Living God, it didn't mean that Elijah was in 'show -off" event, was there to help his fellows to understand the whole truth. And this is what we call LOVE. He stood there on behalf of the Lord. let us not condemn those who are exalting their Lord. My question: How many of us here, who have gone all over their places preaching the gospel to the gentiles telling all the truth?-the love of God, judgment, coming of Christ and its signs, remnants of God, how the prophecies is fulfilled, the Antichrist, great controversy and other doctrines? why condemn others while you are just sitting idle?

      (1)
  35. It is always a good thing when someone calls God's church back to sanity. Our denomination has been hurt by irrational sensationalists. This however, must never detract from our sense of mission and purpose as a church. In 1844 when God called this movement into existence, it was not because He simply wanted another church. There were hundreds of religions in existence, but he needed one that would counteract the false representation of his character by truthfully interpreting and teaching the scriptures. Today, especially today, God does not need another church. There are ministries that are more appealing, more successful than ours. If I need a moving religious experience I would not go to my SDA church, I would go to Lakewood or the Potter's House. If, however, If I want to hear the truth of God's word and to make sense of what is happening in my world, I would have no choice but to go to the SDA church.

    In a world where God has been made irrelevant, where false religious teachings are holding people in faiths where they are subjected to spiritual abuse; at a time when Protestants have forgotten that there were real and substantive reasons why they split from the Catholic church, God needs a church that will be true to his word. This is the reason God has called this church. Not only to join the religious chatter that is bent on making a God of their own choosing, but to teach in the context of the love message of the cross, the unerring truths of God word. When the Holy Spirit has called us and commissioned us, we will preach in the loving spirit with which Jesus taught. We will also preach the truth.

    The Bible predicted that there would be a famine for the word of God in the last days. We have always assumed that it would be when "our Bibles are taken away from us." This prophecy is being fulfilled in our churches on a weekly basis, where we can go for months without a sermon that teaches and not only assure us of how God promises to grant us his favor. Pope Francis knew what his mission was, which was to restore the image of the Catholic church after a horrendous child abuse scandal. Whatever we believe about him, he knows his mission and he is succeeding beyond even, I believe, his expectation. It is interesting that it is SDA to whom the Three Angel's Message is given, that are floundering. Can God really count on us?

    (3)
  36. I would like to make a comment on the "False Accusation" section of your article. See what we must understand is that our enemy is sly and very cunning and his words must be taken with a grain of salt all times. The passage about what Pope Francis said about Jesus' life "humanly speaking" is a failure to me is an attack. Why? If Jesus' life "humanly speaking" was a failure and it ended in a failure at the cross, then that means that my life will end in failure also, and everyone that has ever lived and died their lives "humanly speaking" ended in failure. How, how is it that Jesus' life "humanly speaking" ended in failure? What is it about someone's life that dictates success or failure? My brother, put context aside and read between the lines, nothing about Jesus' life was failure, humanly speaking, spiritually speaking or from any other context. Death is not a failure, it is an absolute must for everyone. Open your eyes to the Spirit of God, and do not use reasoning with certain things, you will be deceived.

    (4)
    • We need to be careful about using the notion that just because the Pope said it, it is wrong. The idea that Jesus' life, humanly speaking, was a failure is not a uniquely papal idea. In fact I have heard it expressed in Seventh-day Adventists sermons long before the current pope even donned his priestly cassock.

      Of course a mission where a person sets out to do good and ends up being put to death is regarded in human terms as a failure. The point is that we are not the judge of success and failure and God has turned that failure in human terms into the salvation that we have all come to love and appreciate. The fact the God turns what we regard as failure into heavenly success is one of the great themes of salvation. Praise God for it; the Pope does not own that idea.

      There are systemic things about the papal system that concern me deeply, but please do not fall into the trap of thinking everything the Pope says is wrong. Choose what you criticize carefully and in voicing those criticisms remember that you are representing Christ in your words and actions.

      (1)
      • In my opinion, right on again. "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good" (Rom 12:9). "Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil" (1 Thess 5:21). So we are to sort things out rather than the source which may have a lot of truth within it. Not all Christianity is bad but some within it certainly is.

        I further think that many good Adventists hold to some things that are not good that we can't just automatically accept. To me, be a good Berean instead of a lousy Thessalonian (Acts 17:11).

        (0)
    • Hi Jello! Thank you for your comment. I think we need to define what we mean by "humanly speaking". The context of Francis' statement shows that when he said "humanly speaking" he defined it as the way in which sinful, erring mortals evaluate success. According to sinful, erring mortals success is when you make lots of financial wealth, gain lots of political power, own lots of property, and gain lots of popular fame. This is what it means to be successful in "human" terms. Jesus did none of this. He made no money, had no political power, owned no house or land, and was not a pop-star. Instead, he lived a poor life, challenged the religious system of his day, and was killed on a cross. Humanly speaking this is failure. This is why the disciples were depressed after Jesus' death. They were looking at things with human eyes and they felt he had failed to be the messiah. This is also why Paul says that to the Greek the cross is foolishness. Because in their human wisdom they see the cross as a failure not a success. All Francis was saying was that we should not measure success by human standards but by divine ones. According to the divine perspective Jesus was indeed successful and in the same way we should measure our lives by how God defines success not man. To then turn around and accuse Pope Francis of saying Jesus was a failure is to ignore the context of his statement and its intent. Francis was speaking of perception not reality. Sinful human perception would see the cross as failure. Divine reality would see it as success. Thats all he was saying. Hope that clarifies things.

      (0)
    • Amen! Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: -John 11:25 And pope calls Jesus death a failure?
      Christ did not yield up His life till He had accomplished the work which He came to do, and with His parting breath He exclaimed, “It is finished.” John 19:30. The battle had been won. His right hand and His holy arm had gotten Him the victory. As a Conqueror He planted His banner on the eternal heights. Was there not joy among the angels? All heaven triumphed in the Saviour’s victory. Satan was defeated, and knew that his kingdom was lost. – {DA 758.1}
      To the angels and the unfallen worlds the cry, “It is finished,” had a deep significance. It was for them as well as for us that the great work of redemption had been accomplished. They with us share the fruits of Christ’s victory. – {DA 758.2}

      (0)
  37. I believe that we should never use lies to preach the truth; however, we are to proclaim revelation 14, the three Angels's message to a perishing world. The pope is antichrist, he preaches a message contrary to Christ, he sits in the temple of God, millions are perishing because in a garment of sanctity their are being thought that there is salvation in their works and thru others ways such as Mari and the saints and no thru the merits of Christ the only way, truth and life. I believe we need to be respectful when sharing the gospel, but we also have a responsibility to warm the world.

    (2)
  38. This is typically a true post Marcos. Many times the average Adventist has both ears craving for some negative information pertaining to the Vatican. This has caused many of the professed adventists to shift from Christ and love as their focal points to witch-hunting the RC for probable errors. This is not and will never be the reason why we were called into the remnant. However we should also guard against giving in when the devil through his accomplice the 'Vicar of Christ' seems to be uttering sense. I guess God inspired your post my brother.

    (2)
  39. This article carried a strong message for us SDA Christians, it was reminding who the center of our preaching is OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.without him our message to the world carries no value at all. The desire of ages shows as a great example how our Lord spread the good news...with love. To the people that had denied him and later crucified him but oh what love our savior had for them and what an example for us his followers! But let's not, I repeat lets not make a mistake of compromising with the a enemy! Brother Marcos you said“Haven’t you read enough of that already? Do we really need another article on the Antichrist agenda? Do we really need to be told again and again?” are sure we have reached our limit of letting the world know about the papacy?? Are you sure everybody by now knows the truth behind the papacy? God forbid we stop alerting the world about the papacy especially now when her wound is about to heal!we will keep preaching about the three angels message until that troubled heart somewhere comes face to face with the truth and acknowledges Christ. This is the present truth..many will deny it and call it cruel but the holy spirit will touch every heart willing to come to light!

    (1)
  40. As an Irishman who was raised as a Roman Catholic and then became a Seventh Day Adventist, I find your article so refreshing. I meet other former Catholics who bave become born-again who spend most of their time and energy criticising the Catholic Church and, in particular, the Pope.
    That is not why I became a Christian, I became a Christian because I finally accepted Christ as my saviour. He is my focus. Thank you for the article.

    (1)
  41. truth be told,the approach most of us(Adventist) use does nothing in bringing whom we claim are lost to Jesus but repels them further and further. I agree that we should teach and warn them on things contrary to the bible doctrine but not in an insensible manner. Again we cannot disagree on everything they say(even good). For example,we know that bible sabbath is the day of worship. What have you help when you post a blunt post like "Sunday is the Mark of the Beast?" So I think anyone qualified to teach on topics needs a balanced approach. I agree with the writer.

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  42. "Truth is, we don’t know who the Antichrist is. While I share the conviction that the Antichrist is certainly the papacy, that does not automatically mean that a particular pope is the Antichrist".

    (0)
  43. Prophecy is for us a "light in a dark place".
    There is much false information on Web now. Even, the official News becomes propaganda. We have this light to see things in different way from others who only Know what world powers put in their mind.
    We only have mistakenly given to prophecy place of the Only way to salvation. So then have problem with it, to overestimate it or blast it.
    If put in good perspective: Salvation by Christ alone, but Prophecy is our sight in dark, than we can even preach prophecy not in terms of causing salvation but as true information.

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  44. Hi Marcos, thank you for your article, thought provoking as usual.
    I think that it is ironic, you are doing exactly what you are telling us not to do. You tell us not to concentrate on the errors of the papacy, however your article concentrates on our errors when talking about the beasts of Rev 13 but it doesn't suggest how to do it in a loving and constructive way.

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  45. Thanks a lot for the message. There is no need to polish sin.Romans16:17-18,we are worshipping God not someone else like the Antichrist. Let us know what we are and know WHO to worship.

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  46. Speaking against the Pontiff is not hateful. People need to be warned in these last days as Christ said even the very elect will be deceived. EGW stated that unless we are grounded in Scripture, we won't know what's real and what is deception. The Bible clearly states who is the Anti-Christ and we have a responsibility to share this in the Spirit and Love of Jesus. If we don't point it out now, then when?

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    • God told us where to look and who to look at.

      Marco you call him a child of God.Jesus call him showing himself to be God,don't denie the scriptures.

      (2)
      • Patricia, you are so right that God told us where to look. The whole Bible from beginning to end focuses on Christ to whom we should look for salvation. We become like the object of our focus. If we focus on Christ, we become more like Him. If we focus on evil, we become more evil. If we seek to love others like Jesus, we become more loving like Him. If we condemn others like Christ's enemies did, we become more like them.

        As for being a "child of God," there are several ways of looking at that expression. We can consider that only those who are born again are children of God, but it is difficult for us to know who is a true child of God in that sense.

        Another way of looking at "child of God" is that every person on this planet is made in the image of God and is thus a child of God. Some are lost children of God, and it is our job to seek and find these lost children and bring them back to the Father. Christ demonstrated that He loved every person with whom He came in contact, even when he knew that person would betray Him to be crucified.

        If we profess to be followers of Christ, should we not also love everyone? Is Pope Francis not a person made in the image of God? Are priests not made in the image of God? While some may only profess to be followers of God, others have turned to God with their whole hearts, and I expect to see them in heaven. Pope Francis is a priest in a position at the head of what we believe to be a counterfeit religious system. But we do not know what God has in store for him as a person. Only God does, and only He can judge.

        By the way, the Bible has nothing to say about Pope Francis, so let's not misrepresent the Bible.

        By the way, can you please give the reference for your "Jesus call him showing himself to be God"? (Or maybe someone else can, because I can't find it, even though I know there's a passage with similar content in the NT.)

        (3)
  47. Thanks for sharing! I feel the same way too!I was surprised when I heard some people warning us that the Pope is coming to America I was surprised because I said surely, this is not the first time a pope came to America. While we have to live Godly lives and share the truth with others! We must be wise as serpents and harmless as doves!Help others to fall in love with Jesus!

    (7)
  48. Thank you Marcos for good observations. However, I could not agree with you when you said, "that does not automatically mean that a particular pope is the Antichrist".

    Please remember that it is impossible for a particular pope to fulfill that prophecy. To start with, he was given 1260yrs during the dark ages and no man can live that long. It is his office that was seen persecuting Christians, attempting to alter God's laws, speaking blasphemies and that will ultimately usher in the mark of the beast. Therefore, that makes every pope the "man of sin", "the beast", etc. Since his sinister mission is directed against Christ and His people, will not the apologetic position open doors to deceptions by the enemy of God? Is he going to become the enemy of God's people only when his furry is lashed out on God's followers? Should not the Christian burn with righteous indignation when he is practicing blasphemy? Should the spirit of the reformers who saw him for who he is be manifested only when our bread is affected? If we don't call a spade by its name, we may set ourselves up for easy deception.

    (22)
    • Hello Judith. Thank you for your comment. It is wonderful to see people who take an interest in these topics and are willing to discuss them in a friendly way. To clarify, let it be known that at no point do I say we should not preach prophecy or help people see end time deceptions including those related to the papal system. When I say we dont know who the antichrist is I am speaking of individuals.

      While scripture paints a complex picture of antichrist to the biblically illiterate such a term is understood as one exclusive eschatological being. so when we call a particular pope the antichrist and he dies without ever having fulfilled that role (final eschatological being) people lose confidence in our prophetic message. better to stick to scripture and say we do not know exactly who this final figure will be but that we do know that the papal system and all it entails is certainly what prophecy has in mind when it speaks of these things. So I am not saying we should not identify and discuss these things. What I am saying is we need to be careful to identify one particular man as the antichrist. The papacy is certainly antichrist and each pope certainly plays a role, but to simply go around calling a particular pope the antichrist amounts to nothing more than name calling to a culture that is already hyper sensitive to religious intolerance, narcissism, and hate.

      So then how do we do this? The advice I give in the article is that we do so by inviting people into the narrative of Daniel and Revelation. it is by helping them see the entire story unfold - with Jesus at the center - that we can point them to the truth on these things without being interpreted as simply spewing hate speech. What I am contesting is not the proper presentation of prophecy but the pointed statuses, shallow memes, and cheesy one-liners we often throw around in reference to the pope. When we throw this stuff around outside of its apocalyptic narrative it amounts to nothing more than name calling. It's the difference between appropriately disciplining my kid for being naughty and just running around all day calling him "naughty." One is done with care, in a safe context, and within a framework of understanding. the other is nothing more than name calling that edifies no one.

      Let me put it this way. If a nonSDA asked me "who is the antichrist?" I would answer as scripture does "there are many antichrists etc etc." If they then said, "But who is the 'one' people often speak of as the big evil guy at the end of time?" I would say "the bible doesn't tell us who. But it does tell us where he will come from. the office of the papacy is antichrist so a pope will play a significant end time role. but i cannot tell you 'its francis'."

      In the past Adventists have accused every pope of being the final antichrist. So many were running around saying john paul was it. he's the final one. he's gonna bring in the sunday law. didn't happen. they said the same for benedict. he resigned. now they say the same about francis. I say, forget about "who" and focus on "what". I can warn the world by preparing them to reject the errors of the papacy without having to use arguments that come across as ad hominem or name calling by focusing on one dude.

      so is the pope antichrist? of course. but is he THE antichrist? I have no idea. its possible, but we just dont know. Adventist eschatology has never attempted to identify a man but a system. A system which is antithetical to the gospel. so then, what is the gospel? thats the magic question and when we focus on that and make that central we fireproof ourselves against deception. So thats all im saying. im not suggesting, as some do, that the antichrist is not papal rome. I totally believe it's papal rome. but i stop short of saying "it's this guy right here". hope that clarifies my point a bit. you may still disagree of course and that's OK. I pray God's Spirit will fill us both as we work to prepare the world for Jesus' return.

      (15)
      • Marcos, this response might be even better than your original article, praise the Lord.
        I would like to know, however, where does the bible tell us of the origin or source of "the antichrist"? I think that is very significant since there are "many antichrists" according to Scripture.

        (4)
        • I agree that this response is much clearer than your original article with regard to antichrists, the Antichrist and the papal system. Your original article left me uncertain about how I should proceed. It boils down to our educating our church members how to present the gospel and prophecy. The most important aspect though as you have repeatedly stated is that our lives mirror that of Christ.

          (1)
        • Kenny,

          A full answer to your question would require more time than I have but yes, I do agree, there are many antichrists not just one and they were already around long before the first Pope. The descriptions used to define antichrist by the bible are certainly met in the papacy and all it represents but can also be seen in many other systems of belief. The concept of antichrist in the bible is much deeper than a man though the language does indicate human involvement. Thats all i have time for right now. Hope it helps a bit 😀

          (0)
      • My brother Marcos if a man does things against Jesus Christ the word of Jesus says ye be antichrist now shall we examine what this man does.hmm let's see,does he practice idol worship,does he hold Mary in higher regard than Jesus, does he claim to be able to forgive sins,these are but three things he practices there are many more and tells his followers to do as well guess what that means according to Jesus anyone that does things against Jesus tells others to do as well is antichrist I find this article to be very sad the power of political correctness is great indeed seems the elect are being decieved stand up for Jesus he died for you

        (1)
        • Chris, according to your definition, any one of us may be "antichrist" when we do not act like Jesus. And maybe you do have a point there. When we act more like Satan the accuser than Jesus who died for us, maybe we are antichrist?

          Please review the comments under this post to see how both the Bible and Ellen White corroborate the main points of Pastor Torres's post. In order to fulfill the commission Christ gave us, we need to present the "Good News." Pope Francis is known throughout the world for his self-sacrificing work for the poor and disadvantaged, having in the past risked his own safety in their behalf. When we do nothing but condemn him, the message we give is that we are also against the poor and disadvantaged. Study this week's lesson to see what the Lord thinks of this.

          No doubt Pope Francis is part of a system that is "antichrist," but just as individual Jews may still be saved, so individual Catholics may be saved and may, indeed, be closer to the Kingdom than some of us. That includes priests, of whom Pope Francis is one. Priests have seen the light regarding direct access to Christ in the past and become committed Seventh-day Adventists. And there is good reason to believe that more will see the light in the future. But that won't happen unless we demonstrate the love and kindness of Jesus Christ in our lives.

          (4)
  49. Thanks Brethren for the comments. I have wondered with worry as to the 'antichrist' messages on the social media. Adventist duty is preach the work and ministry of our risen savior. Unfortunately, we have become judgmental and accusing Catholics and the pope as the antichrist, that Obama and pope Francis have signed the national Sunday law. This phobia/excitement exhibited by some adventist explain how unprepared we are spiritually. Our duty is to preach the gospel,pointing out sin as it is, leave with our neighbours as believers. Let our Christian adventist way of life be a sermon to those who don't share our view. Let's invite them to church or we visit them for a bible study and show them the shining light of truth.

    (6)
  50. I have wondered with worry as to the 'antichrist' messages on the social media propagated by some adventist. I believe duty is to preach the work and ministry of our risen savior, warn the world of the impeding conflict and the soon coming of the Messiah. This should be done without instilling fear, judgmental and undemeaning way. Whether the pontiff is antichrist, it's not my issue. Mine is to seek God's Kingdom when I am still able to, set my focus on things above and press onward until I receive my reward for my meaningful run. Unfortunately, we have become judgmental and accusing Catholics and the pope as the antichrist, that Obama and pope Francis have signed the national Sunday law. This phobia/excitement exhibited by some adventist explain how unprepared we are spiritually. Our duty is to preach the gospel,pointing out sin as it is, leave with our neighbours as believers. Let our Christian adventist way of life be a sermon to those who don't share our view. Let's invite them to church or we visit them for a bible study and show them the shining light of truth.

    (2)
  51. We must never forget history and historical events.. Please read the history of catholic beliefs Look at the Catholic present method of prayer and worship Luther broke away from this apostasy to provide freedom for proper worship of God The bible is very important Revelation 13 is very clear Evil can appear as angel of light but we must not be deceived by portrayals of goodness Remember Revelation 13
    If this pope is a great man of God with all the secret meetings he has been having with all world leaders this pope has never returned to say these leaders were converted to God Almighty People this pope is gathering his kingdom together Never forget the work of Luther and his groupThe revelation 13 is a warning

    (3)
  52. Adventists are in good company:

    Arnulf (991), the Bishop of Orleans, proclaimed the Pope as the Antichrist, sitting in the temple of God, and showing himself as God.
    Gherbert of Rheims said that the Pope was the antichrist sitting in the temple of God.
    Berenger said the Roman see to be not the apostolic seat, but the seat of Satan.
    Eberhard II (1240), archbishop of Salzburg, affirmed that the Pope was the antichrist.
    The Albigenses called the Church of Rome the whore of Babylon.
    The Waldenses called the Roman Church the harlot of Babylon, and the Papacy, the “man of sin” and “antichrist”.
    John Wycliffe said Antichrist, the head of all these evil men, is the pope of Rome.
    Walter Brute was martyred for saying the Pope is the Antichrist.
    Sir John Oldcastle, a follower of Wycliffe, proclaimed the Pope as the great Antichrist, the Son of Perdition, the open Adversary of God, and the Abomination standing in the holy place.
    John Huss proclaimed the Antichrist has been revealed in the Pope for which he was burned to death.
    William Tyndale said the Pope is the antichrist and his doctrine sprung of the devil.
    Huldreich Zwingli proclaimed the might and power of the Devil, that is, of the Antichrist… the Papacy has to be abolished.
    John Calvin said we call the Roman pontiff Antichrist.
    Martin Luther declared “We here are of the conviction that the papacy is the seat of the true and real Antichrist.”
    Philipp Melanchthon, a German Reformer, said that the Roman Pontiff is the antichrist.
    Ulriucus Zuinglius said the Pope is the Antichrist whom Paul described.
    Master John Bradford, who was martyred in 1555, said “the usurped authority of the supremacy of the bishop of Rome is undoubtedly that great Antichrist.”
    In 1555 Hugh Latimer said before being burned to death, “What fellowship have Christ with Antichrist?“
    Nicholas Ridley said before being burned to death that the See of Rome is the seat of Satan.
    Thomas Cranmer said before being burned to death that the Pope is Christ’s enemy, and the antichrist.
    John Knox said “ the pope should be recognized as “the very antichrist, and son of perdition, of whom Paul speaks.”
    Geneva Study Bible included study notes from the Protestant Reformers, that all proclaimed that the Popes of Rome were the antichrist beast.
    The Lutheran confession of faith 1603 testified that “the Pope is the very Antichrist, who exalteth himself above, and opposeth himself against Christ.”
    The London Baptist Confession of 1689, proclaims that the Popes of Rome is the antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the church against Christ.
    Westminster Confession of Faith states that the Popes of Rome is the antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the church against Christ.

    (13)
  53. Suggested Continued Reading: Counsels to Writers and Editors "Words of Caution," Chapter 8 By EG White. Please read the whole chapter so that some of the statement taken from chapter 8 listed below will not be taken out of context. also compare dates- when many of her statements were written. You may note some progression in her understand of issues and events.

    Satan's attacks against the advocates of the truth will wax more bitter and determined to the very close of time. As in Christ's day the chief priests and rulers stirred up the people against Him, so today the religious leaders will excite bitterness and prejudice against the truth for this time.

    Their words must not be rugged and sharp. In their presentation of truth they must manifest the love and meekness and gentleness of Christ. Let the truth do the cutting; the word of God is as a sharp, two-edged sword, and will cut its way to the heart.

    Those who know that they have the truth should not, by the use of harsh and severe expressions, give Satan one chance to misinterpret their spirit. {CW 58.3}

    No Railing Accusation.--As a people, we must stand as did the world's Redeemer. When in controversy with Satan in regard to the body of Moses, Christ durst not bring against him a railing accusation.

    Those who have been educated in the truth by precept and example, should make great allowance for others who have had no knowledge of the Scriptures except through the interpretations given by ministers and church members, and who have received traditions and fables as Bible truth. They are surprised by the presentation of truth; it is as a new revelation to them, and they cannot bear to have all the truth, in its most striking character, presented to them at the outset.

    Unkind Thrusts and Personal Allusions.-- Let not those who write for our papers make unkind thrusts and allusions that will certainly do harm, and that will hedge up the way and hinder us from doing the work that we should do in order to reach all classes, the Catholics included.

    All sharp thrusts will come back upon us in double measure when the power is in the hands of those who can exercise it for our injury.

    Over and over the message has been given to me that we are not to say one word, not to publish one sentence, especially by way of personalities, unless positively essential in vindicating the truth, that will stir up our enemies against us, and arouse their passions to a white heat.

    Disqualified by Careless Statements.--The Lord wants His workers to represent Him, the great Missionary Worker. The manifestation of rashness always does harm. The proprieties essential for Christian life must be learned daily in the school of Christ.

    Present Truth Without Censure.--Precious truth must be presented in its native force. The deceptive errors that are widespread, and that are leading the world captive, are to be unveiled. Every effort possible is being made to ensnare souls with subtle reasonings, to turn them from the truth to fables, and to prepare them to be deceived by strong delusions.

    To ridicule the position held by those who are in error, will not open their blind eyes, nor attract them to the truth. {CW 62.2}

    Thrusts at the Catholics.--It is true that we are commanded to "cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." Isa. 58:1.

    This message must be given, but while it must be given, we should be careful not to thrust and crowd and condemn those who have not the light that we have.

    We should not go out of our way to make hard thrusts at the Catholics. Among the Catholics there are many who are most conscientious Christians, and who walk in all the light that shines upon them, and God will work in their behalf.

    Those who have had great privileges and opportunities, and who have failed to improve their physical, mental, and moral powers, but who have lived to please themselves, and have refused to bear their responsibility, are in greater danger and in greater condemnation before God than those who are in error upon doctrinal points, yet who seek to live to do good to others. Do not censure others; do not condemn them. {CW 63.2}

    No Condemnatory Articles.--The light which I have to give to our people is, Let no condemnatory speeches be printed in our papers. A large number of precious souls are groping in darkness, yet longing and weeping and praying for light. Thus it is in churches everywhere.--Manuscript 46, 1900. {CW 65.2}

    Facing Readers in Judgment.--My attention has been called to your articles in our papers in reference to the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.

    In the Spirit of Christ.--We cannot help the Christless by finding fault with them. We have not been given the work of reproving or giving personal thrusts in our periodicals. This attitude is misleading, We are to be "not easily provoked." We are to remember that by our spiritual attitude we are to show that we are feeding on Christ, the bread of life. By our words, our tempers, and our works, we may testify to those with whom we come in contact, that the Spirit of Christ dwells in us.--Manuscript 46, 1898. {CW 66.3}

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  54. I am afraid some people commenting here are missing the point. Just because someone is guilty of something does not mean you can bring false accusations and false evidence against them. If you do the case will be thrown out. Many Adventists are posting things on Facebook that the pope has supposedly said which are not true. By doing this they have destroyed their own credibility and more importantly their integrity by spreading lies. Now no one will believe them when they do tell the truth about what is true about prophecy. Adding lies is not a good way to build your case. We should always make sure what we say is actually true. Marcos agrees with our understanding of prophecy, but also realizes false accusations weaken your case. They do not strengthen it.

    Some people make a religion out of bashing Ellen White while others make a religion our of bashing the pope. True religion is lifting up Jesus.

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    • The point I have made is that we need to educate our brethren how to present the gospel and demonstrate in our lives, in our teachings and sermons how they are to be kind.

      (0)
  55. i disagree..and feel it is controlling to write this type of letter on the online sabbath school site.
    internet and online discussions are ways to help witness to the world the 3 angels message.
    how better to do this than to earnestly state it as it is.
    just bc the pope is nice and has done humane things..does not change who he is or what the papacy or rome represents..we should not hide under a bushel..and we dont have to be mean..but quoting a bible text rt revelation..and being factual and warning people..id rather do that then be politically correct..
    something is wrong with this article..and i thot so as soon as i saw it on our ss online..
    and finally decide to read it..it for sure..is what i thought...
    no we are not ashamed to discuss or speak prophecy...even if it seems harsh..it doesnt mean a person bashes the pope..calls him names..is rude or mean..but we aren't to pretend..and be all nice..(none of the disciples were this way..they spoke as it was)..id rather speak out and let people be warned then be "nice" and politically correct so as not to make waves...(or have unity like all the other churches..).we shouldn't go out of our way to be causing trouble..but we should speak the truth...as martin luther did..without shame, fear of political correctness
    we should be bold...and we should never be afraid to speak truth..or our distinct message.
    what happened with the pope was prophetic..(he is and does represent the beast power) "and all the world wondered after the beast". there I'm not afraid to say it or write it on the internet...

    (5)
    • Thank you for your comment, Rebecca, and welcome to our blog. 🙂

      First of all, please realize that both this blog and the online lessons are not connected to the General Conference Sabbath School Department. We are an independently funded ministry who publish the Sabbath School lessons by permission. What you see on our site and on Facebook is the result of many, many hours of work by dedicated volunteers. If you don't like what we publish, you have several other choices. You can use a paper lesson, or you can get the lessons in Kindle format, or you can download them from the GC Sabbath School site. So you see, we are not "controlling" you. You have a choice!!

      However, we're not sure that you have really understood what Marcos is saying in his article. He is not denying the role that the papacy will play in end-time events. And he is most certainly not saying that we should not share prophecy. He is saying that we should avoid these mistakes that make our sharing prophecy ineffective:
      Making false accusations about the Pope and the Papacy.
      Using language about Catholics that are seen as being hateful.
      Wanting more and more anti-catholic stories and arguments.
      He makes the point that the Pope has fulfilled the role of Antichrist in the past and will most likely play a part in last day events. He also states clearly that The Great Controversy is one of his favorite books, which indicates that he is familiar with and accepts the end-time scenario presented in it.

      He is concerned that Seventh-day Adventists in their zeal to condemn Catholicism use any argument at all, including false arguments and hateful unChristian words.

      Please read carefully all that Marcos has written including his replies to other commenters, as well as the comments others have left which corroborate some of the points that Marcos has made.

      Jesus told us to be "wise as serpents, harmless as doves." To that end, we should avoid the mistakes Marcos points out.

      Marcos makes the case for us presenting the Gospel of Christ, not a mission of hate against Catholics. It seems that some Adventists confuse the Gospel of uplifting Christ with an anti-Catholic message, thinking they are doing God's will be doing so. Jesus himself says that when He is lifted up He will draw people to him. (John 12:32) Thus our aim should be to lift up Christ.

      Consider the commission Christ gave to His church:

      "19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.​"
      The gospel is best taught by those who demonstrate its effectiveness in their own lives. Christ said, "34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
      35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

      (John 13:34, 35)​ It is the contrast between the lives of Christ's disciples and the world that makes their testimony effective.
      ​That truth has not changed over time. In fact the last message to the world begins with

      "I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
      7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." ​ (Rev 14:​​​6,7)​

      ​Notice that the last message starts with the same "everlasting gospel" that Christ commissioned His followers to spread. Without the gospel demonstrated in the lives of His followers, no warning against Babylon will be effective. And when His followers demonstrate the love of God in their lives, the contrast between them and "Babylon" will be so distinct that the warning will be effective. ​

      ​​Nowhere does the Bible teach us to hate Babylon or even the pope. The message of Christ's followers is first and foremost the gospel. In the end time it is to be delivered in the context ​of the judgment and the fallen nature of the false religious systems, but it is still the gospel - the Good News of Christ saving all who believe in Him.

      (7)
  56. The lesson I have learned from this post and the many comments is when you start out by telling people what they are doing wrong, they immediately want to defend themselves and miss the main point you want to get across.
    I would suggest creating a bridge by starting with what you agree on and then share (don't bash) on how you differ.

    (1)
    • Fully agreed Shirley! And that is exactly what I attempted to do in this article. Notice that the first half builds that common ground. And the second half, plus conclusion solidify it. Here are some quotes:

      First half: "...those who share this consciousness feel a responsibility to warn the world. Thus, while the masses may engage in ardent adulation of Romes pontiff, this group finds itself swimming against that stream. As a historicist I find myself in that very position and wonder, how can I effectively share this story with those who do not share my worldview?"

      Second half: " I share the conviction that the Antichrist is certainly the papacy..."

      Conclusion: "I wholeheartedly embrace the reformers historicist interpretation of Daniel and Revelation. I am all for giving the warning. I am all for preaching final events."

      My only contentions in this article - which some have misunderstood - are these: When warning the world about Satan's end time deceptions do not 1) Use faulty arguments/ false accusations, 2) Use pointed, condemnatory, or hateful language, and 3) focus so much on Satan that we forget prophecy to be the testimony of Jesus.

      With regard to point #2, which some seem to have taken special objection to, I am not saying that we do not know what the antichrist is. What I am saying is we do not know who it is. The antichrist is certainly the papacy. But who is the antichrist (as in the really bad guy at the end of time)? We simply do not know. So when we call a pope antichrist not only do unbelievers hyper sensetive to religious intolerance interpret that as hate speech but they also interpret our statements as us saying that this pope is that really bad dude at the end of time. But we dont know that for sure. People accused John Paul of being the climactic antichrist and hes dead now. So while he may have been an antichrist in one sense, he certainly was not the climactic antichrist. They said the same of Benedict and hes resigned. And now we say the same of Francis. So my contention is that we should stick to daniel and revelation. Daniel speaks of a beast whose body would be destroyed but that beast represents a political empire not a person. He also speaks of a little horn whose dominion would be taken away but that little horn represents the papacy not a particular pope. In the same way the antichrist is referring to a system - the office of the pope. Prophecy does not purport to reveal the personal identify of who the final climactic antichrist will be. Adventist theology has never done this either. We maintain the antichrist is the papacy but refrain from accusing one particular pope of fulfilling that title. In doing so we wisely avoid what can be easily interpreted as name calling and yet we still preach the warning message. That is all I am suggesting in this article.

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  57. people worry about your life. prophecy has to be fulfilled,with or without us. let us put our lives in order for christ.

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  58. While reading this morning, I came across these two short paragraphs which I feel are highly relevant to this discussion.

    "Many will look away from present duties, present comfort and blessings, and be borrowing trouble in regard to the future crisis. This will be making a time of trouble beforehand, and we will receive no grace for any such anticipated troubles" 3SM 383 (1884)

    What an accurate statement that is to describe the current fascination and fanaticism about the unrevealed antichrist. How accurately she saw in 1884 the happenings of 2015, where many would ignore our calling, and turn to hate speech and try to stir up trouble themselves, not content to let Him who knows all lead the way.

    The second quote is this:

    "There is a time of trouble coming to the people of God, but we are not to keep that constantly before the people and rein them up to have a time of trouble beforehand. There is to be a shaking among God's people, but this is not the present truth to carry to the churches." 1SM 180 (1890)

    When Jesus separates the people as a shepherd separates the sheep and the goats. I do not want Him to say you never cared for me. And then have to say but I was too busy trying to expose the antichrist and warn others of the danger to come, I had no time to feed the hungry refugees or to promote love and care for others and our planet.

    We are not at liberty to denounce good deeds or good words or actions. Didn't Jesus warn us about this Himself? "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us."

    But here we go, repeating that same mistake - denouncing another because he is not one of "us".

    If you do this, it is not Jesus who is motivating you.

    If you pray rather for the Pope, that he may indeed be a good man, that he will defend the cause of the poor and needy, and that he too will one day be in heaven, and give us the grace to applaud good deeds on the part of any person, then we can know that we stand with Jesus. Leave the trouble for the future, it will find us soon enough. For now, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.

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  59. I think the apologetic way the pope has been reaccepted into protestant cirles is creeping into adventism. How can there be fellowship between light and darkness. Why consider the good being done rather than the spirit behind countless brutal killings of christians in the past and still to come. We don't have the luxury of a middle ground when it comes to issues of truth.There can be no peace without truth rather have war.By the way the bible does identify the antichrist.
    It is the number of a man and that number is 666 .That number is on the pope's forehead .This new teaching of let's all be friends is exactly what Paul warned about.

    (8)
    • Please consider that Marcos's post was not about "accepting" Pope Francis. It was about avoiding mistakes in our teaching of prophecy.

      You mention we should engage in war, and the Apostle Paul says something similar, even mentioning "weapons of our warfare." (2 Cor 10:4) The question is, How shall we fight the war on Christ's side? Do we fight the war by focusing on individuals or institutions that are against Christ? Is that what Christ did when He was on this earth? Or should we fight the "war" by teaching the truth about God - which is what Christ did?

      Is the "war" against Satan fought with earthly weapons? Or is it fought with heavenly weapons? If the latter, what are those weapons?

      You say that the Bible identifies the antichrist, and here are all the passages in which antichrist is mentioned: 1 John 2:18, 1 John 2:22, 1 John 4:3, 2 John 1:7. If you can point out where the Bible says what you say it says, please do so. (Note that John says there are "many antichrists.)

      That the number of 666 is on the Pope Francis's forehead is simply false. Perhaps you got that idea from a picture you saw, but it is not safe to get our facts from cartoons or other images. Repeating such a falsehood is one of the mistakes against which Marcos warns.

      (3)
  60. There will never be one best way of preaching the three angels' message which will leave entirely all parties concerned unhurt. Truth is truth and must be presented not to bruise/offend but warn those affected. We should never be found compromising to fit in. Regarding love, it's true whatever messages born to the world must be presented prayerfully and in love but we need to bear in mind that no matter how careful we May be, since the devil knows that souls would be converted, he will arouse some hatred. Jesus experienced that, even though he loved human kind and taught to give knowledge of salvation, he was hated, showered with insults and ultimately crucified. Let's just preach without sparing that so!!

    (3)
    • The point to remember here is that preaching the three angels message is not the same as denouncing the Roman Catholics at all, not in the tiniest little bit.

      For example, the ultimate Antichrist was Caiaphas. He was personally intimately involved in persecuting, or being "Anti" Jesus the Christ.

      Now using the example of Jesus, did He go around warning the people about Caiaphas? Or did he instead focus on preaching God's Kingdom, proclaiming Good News to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind,
      and setting the oppressed free - proclaiming the acceptable year of the Lord?

      Of course, Jesus did the latter, and only when He was attacked by the priests did He respond by pointing their failings out, and warning people to exceed them in righteousness. He did not go out of his way to point out to any, except to his disciples in private, who and what the priest were up to - and then really only in order to try to prepare them for his death on the cross.

      Now what we should do is to follow the example of Jesus, and focus on the message, and only ever deal to the Roman Catholic church in defence when we have to, not in attack, just like Jesus did.

      Do not make a time of trouble before hand, we know that their attack will come when they turn the world against those keeping the true Sabbath, but that time is not now, and that message is not for now - not for the world.

      Let us follow the example of our Master in these things, and do what He did.

      (4)
  61. Matt 24:24 , Jesus says that many shall come in His name saying that they are Christ. The morning star of the reformation John Wycliffe says that this text has particular reference to the many popes who would come in the name of Christ. All popes to date have accepted the title Vicar of Christ. All popes continue worship idols and promote sunday worship, trampling on the Law of God and claiming prerogatives which belong only to God. The Office of the papacy is the head of the anti christ movement, therefore all popes must be referred to as anti christ, because the sole objective of the papacy is to further the work of the
    Chief Anti christ satan himself.
    Through the papacy's false doctrine of the emaculate conception (Mary the mother of Jesus was born without our sinful nature. She was born without sin and committed no sin) for centuries the Papacy has denied that Christ has come in the flesh. They say that Christ came into this World as a complete divine being without our sinful nature because Mary was sinless and God is HisFather, which simply means that Christ did not come in the flesh but rather He came in divinity. We read in 2 John 7, "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist". The book of Philippians 2:7 we are told that Christ was made in the likeness of men. The papacy continues to denied that Christ has come in the flesh and that makes it Antichrist.

    (5)
    • Dear Brian,

      While there is truth in your comment, you also illustrate one of the three mistakes against which Pastor Torres warns - making a patently false statement about the papacy.

      The papacy continues to denied that Christ has come in the flesh and that makes it Antichrist.

      In fact, quite the opposite is true, as can be found in the Catholic Catechism found directly on the Vatican site:

      CHAPTER TWO
      I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, THE ONLY SON OF GOD

      ARTICLE 3
      "HE WAS CONCEIVED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY"

      Paragraph 1. The Son of God Became Man

      I. WHY DID THE WORD BECOME FLESH?

      456 With the Nicene Creed, we answer by confessing: "For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit, he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man."

      457 The Word became flesh for us in order to save us by reconciling us with God, who "loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins": "the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world", and "he was revealed to take away sins":70

      Sick, our nature demanded to be healed; fallen, to be raised up; dead, to rise again. We had lost the possession of the good; it was necessary for it to be given back to us. Closed in the darkness, it was necessary to bring us the light; captives, we awaited a Savior; prisoners, help; slaves, a liberator. Are these things minor or insignificant? Did they not move God to descend to human nature and visit it, since humanity was in so miserable and unhappy a state?71

      458 The Word became flesh so that thus we might know God's love: "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him."72 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."73

      459 The Word became flesh to be our model of holiness: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me." "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me."74 On the mountain of the Transfiguration, the Father commands: "Listen to him!"75 Jesus is the model for the Beatitudes and the norm of the new law: "Love one another as I have loved you."76 This love implies an effective offering of oneself, after his example.77

      460 The Word became flesh to make us "partakers of the divine nature":78 "For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God."79 "For the Son of God became man so that we might become God."80 "The only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in his divinity, assumed our nature, so that he, made man, might make men gods."81

      II. THE INCARNATION

      461 Taking up St. John's expression, "The Word became flesh",82 the Church calls "Incarnation" the fact that the Son of God assumed a human nature in order to accomplish our salvation in it. In a hymn cited by St. Paul, the Church sings the mystery of the Incarnation:

      Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.83

      462 The Letter to the Hebrews refers to the same mystery:

      Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, Lo, I have come to do your will, O God."84

      463 Belief in the true Incarnation of the Son of God is the distinctive sign of Christian faith: "By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God."85 Such is the joyous conviction of the Church from her beginning whenever she sings "the mystery of our religion": "He was manifested in the flesh."86

      III. TRUE GOD AND TRUE MAN

      464 The unique and altogether singular event of the Incarnation of the Son of God does not mean that Jesus Christ is part God and part man, nor does it imply that he is the result of a confused mixture of the divine and the human. He became truly man while remaining truly God. Jesus Christ is true God and true man.

      During the first centuries, the Church had to defend and clarify this truth of faith against the heresies that falsified it. (From The Catechism of the Catholic Church.)

      Much of Catholic theology is actually a clear exposition of the truth found in Scripture. Unfortunately it is sometimes mingled with error - just like your comment here. It is this mingling of truth and error that is so soul-destroying.

      It also seems to me that you may have too narrow an understanding of the antichrist. Any person or organization that interposes itself between Christ and believers and seeks to compel conscience is effectively "antichrist." Unfortunately there are individuals and "ministries" within the Seventh-day Adventist church that seek to do just that - i.e. compel their fellow believers to accept their version of "truth" rather than allowing them to learn directly from Christ and His Word by the aid of the Holy Spirit.

      At this point in time, we may be facing more danger from the antichrist within than the antichrist without.

      (2)
  62. brothers, do not be fooled! This pastor is another disguised Jesuit in Adventist.
    A faithful Adventist not write praise the antichrist.

    (2)
    • Jose, by your reply, you are illustrating the very concepts that Marcos is writing about.

      Conspiracy thinking allows you to label a faithful Adventist pastor as a "Jesuit."

      By contrast, Jesus said, that "35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:35) It is Satan's job to accuse brothers in Christ. (See Rev 12:10) Please do not join him in his work!

      (4)
    • Your comment illustrates the point of the author. It is Satan's job to accuse brothers in Christ (See Rev 12:10), and conspiracy thinking allows people to think they are serving Christ when they are actually joining Satan in his work.

      Please study the life of Jesus. He demonstrated how to live out the Law of God in our lives.

      (3)
      • Having the law of God in your heart does not mean you cannot point out truth or untruth. Just as Jesus did all the time. He pointed our error and stated things in truth. I accidentally hit the like button even though I do not agree with your comment. And naive to not realize we have serious problems in our sda church. Influenced by Jesuit type theology.

        (0)
        • We would be very happy to publish comments along the line of what Jesus did "all the time." Please read the gospels and see how much "reproving" He did compared to how much He spoke of the love of God.

          In this post, the author did point out some "untruth," but the people who engage in the "top 3 mistakes" don't seem happy to have them pointed out. If you believe that there's something wrong in the post, please demonstrate that you have read the whole post and point out what, specifically, is wrong.

          Our blog exists for the specific purpose of clarifying truth so that people may get to know Jesus better. And sometimes that includes pointing out untruth. However, calling people Jesuits is not pointing out truth. In this case it is lying.

          It is unfortunate that some people seem more eager to defend conspiracy thinking than telling the Good News about Christ. If there is some wrong "Jesuit-type theology" in the church, we believe that the best way to meet it is by teaching truth - not by conspiracy-based accusations.

          (3)
        • In the days when I worked for the church, one of my colleagues was accused by "concerned brethren" of being a Jesuit. The fact that he had a long roman nose, and was a serious academic theologian was enough evidence for some people to justify the accusation. For those of us who knew our friend well and who had benefited from his advice, encouragement, and willingness to stand up for those who were unable to defend themselves, he was a Christian gentleman.

          We all too easily throw up the Jesuit epithet, when we find something we disagree with. We need to take stock of our language, ensuring that our disagreements are carried out with Christian honour and without adding stereotypical names.

          (2)
    • Here's a recap of some important principles to remember:
      1. The Bible promises that it can give us perfect instructions on how to discern between good and evil. ( 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Hebrews 5:14)
      Conspiracy theorist have a low view of Scripture because they teach that the Bible cannot protect you from Beyoncé's secret Masonic hip thrusting messages. You need extra biblical information from them to keep yourself from being deceived. This is a violent attack against the trustworthiness of Scripture. Have nothing to do with these people.

      2. God promises a way out of every situation that may compromise our faith. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
      Conspiracy theorist love to make people think that without their special "insights" all of us will be horribly deceived. Again this is a blatant attempt to cause distrust in God and His protective care. People like this are the real illuminati. They set themselves up as elites who stand in the place of God. Please my beloved brethren, avoid these people.

      (0)
  63. Looking at the title, "Top 3 mistakes to avoid when sharing prophecy", suggests that the writer is not against the sharing of prophecy but rather for it.
    What he is telling us to avoid (content of article) are actually bad things (false accusations,...). Incorporating these, will not only mar the whole presentation but destroy our lives and put God to shame.
    We are God's people, manifesting His Character to the world. God never uses truth together with error but truth and truth only. So why then, do we resort to avenues that God would never employ?
    Let's consider our ways and ask God to take absolute control of lives that He may lead us and not the converse.
    God be with us!

    (2)
  64. This is a response to someone who did not give a name or a working email address. This person accused the church of going soft on the message and in particular, pointed out that the college graduates were worse than Sunday keepers.

    My Response:

    Firstly I am not sure why you have ignored our policy request to supply a name for your comments. We regard the Sabbath School Net Blog as a conversation among friends and like to be able to use names in our conversations rather than anonymous initials. If you choose to comment again please use your name - you are among friends.

    Secondly, I think that you have misunderstood the intent of the article on which you are commenting. Nobody is denying that the papacy is the antichrist. We have ample evidence of the action of the papacy throughout history that affirms that.

    The intent of the original article was to warn against making assertions that go beyond what is true. It is about refraining from making false accusations. You see, sometimes unfortunately we go beyond the facts that are available to all and add more assertions that are often doubtful and sometimes just completely wrong. There are plenty of folk (on the internet) who publish quite irresponsibly. Just because a website says something against the Pope does not make it true. We need to use a sieve to sort out the true from the doubtful.

    Thirdly, I have been a Seventh-day Adventist for a very long time. Further, I have worked in educational institutions for over 40 years. When you start criticizing the product that we have produced, I wonder whether you have seen all the wonderful graduates that who work tirelessly for the Lord. Yes, there are those who graduate and have not really come to know Jesus, but I think of the really great men and women who I have taught who are now preaching and teaching the message. If you have only met College graduates who "are preaching apostasy and compromise", I have to suggest that you are looking in the wrong place. I am not a theology lecturer, but I know enough theology lecturers and their students to be confident that God's Remnant church is in good hands.

    Keep the faith my anonymous friend. Use the sieve to discern the true from the false. And reach out and share with the community of believers.

    (4)
  65. There are many in our church that would not dare to speak well of a known [or even a suspected] Jesuit. But Ellen White was not such a person. In the book, Great Controversy, she writes briefly of a man named Lacunza. Lacunza was a Jesuit priest who wrote about the Second Advent, and his work stands among that body of work which constituted the great "Religious Awakening", leading up to the end of the 2300 years in 1844.

    Lacunza lived and died as a Jesuit. It is true that he incurred opposition from the mother church, but he remained a Jesuit nonetheless. I have no hesitation in saying that Lacunza was a man that was used of God to herald the Second Advent, just as many years before, the heathen "wise men" (Magi) were used of God to herald the First Advent.

    (0)
  66. I have friends that feel they have a Bible-based duty [and authority] to "expose" the works of darkness. (Those that feel most adamant about this, seem to regret that the words they cling to are not found in the KJV, but are actually drawn from the NIV!)

    Their text is : "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather EXPOSE THEM. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret." (Eph 5:11-12 NIV)

    The prospect of actively "exposing" an evil which others don't know about, can be quite exciting. And delight is taken by some, when they can show what evils have been done, and what evil is currently being done, "in secret". But there is an unfortunate contradiction in this. Because the Bible verse says, "it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret." (ibid.) How terrible to feel good about doing something, when we should really feel ashamed of it! Because as the Scripture implies - the activities of "secret societies", etc. are best left un-mentioned.

    So what is it to "expose" (NIV) or to "reprove" (KJV) the "unfruitful works of darkness" (Eph 5:11 KJV)? How do we do it? Well, "the best way to EXPOSE the fallacy of error is to present the evidences of truth. This is the greatest REBUKE that can be given to error." (Evangelism p.577)

    Jesus spoke about the hypocrisy of the priests in His day. But He spoke about things that the people could see. Of course the priests stood on the street corners and had horns blown to announce their "good deeds"! Everybody knew it. Of course the priests stood praying in synagogues and on street corners to be seen and heard by the people! Everyone knew it.

    But "the Savior's example of self-denial, universal kindness, and long-suffering [was] a REBUKE" to the proud, impatient, hypocrites of His day. And the clearer we see it today, the more "His tender, pitying love REBUKES our selfishness and hearlessness" (4T 419; 9T 31.)

    Let's not imagine that by pressing "darkness" upon the minds of people, we are doing God a service. To tell people about the behind the scenes activities of the Illuminate, the Jesuits, the Masonics, the Knights of Columbus, etc. will give neither us nor them an atom of advantage.

    (1)

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