5. Adventism and Babylon Fallen

Now we come to the heart of the matter.  The General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists, or what was formerly the true and living Adventist Church… is it Babylon, or is it not?  When we bring this matter to the attention of Adventists, teaching them that Heaven has called them to withdraw themselves from a wicked and corrupt system, they reply with the standard defense, “Ellen White said that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is not Babylon, and anyone who claims it is, or tries to call people out of it, has been severely misled.”

It is quite true that Ellen White said this.  In her day there were individuals who, seeing things in the Church that were not to their liking, began to proclaim the Adventist Church to be “Babylon,” and to try to call people out of her membership.  In this, they were wrong.

Even if they were correct that the SDA Church had become Babylon, they would still have been wrong to try to call people out… because the call to depart from Babylon only comes after she has “fallen [..] because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” (Rev 14:8b)

At that point in time, over a century ago, this was certainly not true of Adventism.  She had not undergone any of those steps we listed earlier in this study.  She had not taken on pagan characteristics. She was not guilty of blasphemy.  Therefore, no, she was definitely not Babylon.  And she most certainly had not united with the state government to become a persecuting power.  Does this mean, however, that these steps could never be undertaken?  Does this mean that the SDA Church could never, under any circumstances, become Babylon?

Ellen White once wrote that the SDA Church, by not living up to the light it had, and by failing to cleanse itself from certain besetting sins, was in danger of becoming “a sister to fallen Babylon, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.”  But why, looking back over all we have discussed so far today, did she say “a sister to fallen Babylon?”  Why did she not say “in danger of becoming fallen Babylon?” or “another daughter of fallen Babylon” or even more simply, “another Babylon?”

She used the word “sister,” perhaps even more accurately than she intended, because that is the way it would work out.   Supposing for a moment that the Adventist Church went apostate in her day, and she was responding to a present reality.  Was the Adventist Church the “mother of harlots?”  No, for she was not the same, nor could she ever be the same, as the Roman Catholic Church.  Was she one of the harlot-daughters?  No, not them either.

The origins of Adventism are relatively unique in the protestant world. Most of the Sunday-keeping Churches, and even some of the “special cases” like the Seventh-day Baptists, either came out of the Roman Catholic Church or one of those resulting Churches one by one.  But the origins of the Advent movement, though largely attributed to Baptist preacher William Miller, was based on a much larger occurrence that had little to do with “problems” in the teachings of the Baptist Church itself, or the dissatisfaction of any individual or group with the doctrines of a parent (mother) body.  Instead, the Holy Spirit moved upon men and women in an event known as the Great Awakening, and this global phenomenon, which transcended denominational and congregational distinctions, eventually resulted in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

In terms of teachings and structure, the Adventist Church is entirely distinct from other Churches, to the degree that it has been stated by Roman Catholic theologians that the SDA Church is the only true “Protestant” body, in that it entirely rejects the authority of the Papacy to make any alterations to the way men may understand the Scriptures.

The origin, structure and teachings of the Adventist Church are entirely separate from that which is described in the Bible as Babylon and her daughters.  Yet the warning from Mrs. White exists, and Israel itself is a perfect Biblical example of a covenanted Bride of Yahweh that, rejecting the covenant with Him, went through those steps listed in the previous section, became a fallen, persecuting power, and received a calling-out message for its members who were still faithful to the Most High.

Because the Adventist Church was neither mother nor daughter to the Babylonian harlots in Revelaton, yet still capable of undergoing the same process, it would appear that “sister” is actually the best possible term.  Yet as we saw from those verses earlier, a “sister” is capable of being equated with a thing itself, whether it is a city or a woman, when it takes on the characteristics of another.  We also saw that if the characteristics are the same, one sister is treated exactly as another, and this is important to how we respond to the developments in Adventism in recent years.

In terms of origins, again, the SDA Church is separate from the prophecies of Babylon in Revelation.  However, when John wrote the book of Revelation, he was not thinking about the Roman Catholic Church or Sunday-keeping protestants.  Our understanding of symbolic prophecy must expand to meet the revelation of its fulfillment, and CSDAs have a ready example of this in the idea of the Mark of The Beast.

As originally interpreted by Adventists, the Mark of The Beast was to have been a law prohibiting the free exercise of religion with regard to a point of obedience to Yahweh’s Law; specifically, the weekly Sabbath.  This interpretation does fit every point and principle of what the Scriptures describe.  This law, further, would serve as a way of visibly separating those who were covenanted to this world from those who were covenanted to Yahweh, because, and this is very important, it would show who would be obedient to God’s instructions despite persecution.

Due to recent developments, this can no longer possibly be the case.  As we have studied in other places, prophecies are conditional.  The Bible tells us so specifically, (Jer 18:7-10) and clearly mentions that Yahweh will not hold to a covenant that has been broken by His people. (Zec 11:10)  We have examples from the Books of Jonah and Ezekiel that a prophet’s words can be either diverted or modified in their fulfillment if the spiritual condition of the prophecies’ targets is changed.

What John saw as an evil, most likely Gnostic or Roman, power has been applied, due to the course of human events, to the Papacy, and then to Sunday-keeping Protestantism that came forth (as a daughter) from that Papal system.  But now we have a “sister,” because the warnings of Ellen White were most decidedly not heeded… we have a “sister” to fallen Babylon, and what shall we say about that?

As we read, a mother, daughter or a sister may be “equated” with the original when the characteristics are similar.  As we read earlier of an apostate nation, “Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister; therefore will I give her cup into thine hand.” (Ezek 23:31)  Now that is an interesting symbol.  Why did Babylon fall?  What was it that led directly to the fall of Babylon?  In the symbolic prophecy of Revelation, it was because she shared her “cup” with the kings of the earth. They drank the “wine” of the wrath of her fornication, therefore… if a sister walks in the way of this mother of harlots, the same “cup” is given into her hand!

In forming a Trademark, as we studied in that video yesterday, the mainstream Seventh-day Adventist Church formed a “marriage” with the world.  The world defends her. The world protects her.  The world supports her.  At the same time, the world is not the one bringing the lawsuits, it is the Church, directing that great power granted to her by her husband.  In other words, the “woman” is both supported by, and directs the course of, the “beast.”  We have a woman riding a beast, exactly as John foresaw.

The General Conference Organization of Seventh Day Adventists has “walked in the way of [her] sister.”  Remember, Mrs. White was careful (whether deliberately or not) to use that specific familial relationship.  And because she has walked in the way of her “sister,” “Babylon Fallen,” she has received the same cup, the same reward, and… the same designation: Babylon Fallen.

There can be no doubt about this, for so say the principles of Scripture.  And in addition to the cup, reward, and designation, she has also received the same divine sentence from Heaven: “O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.” (Psa 137:8)  Remember, “sisters” are given to “mothers” as “daughters” when those sisters become like their elder sibling. (Ezek 16:61)

When, therefore, the message of the Second Angel is repeated by the Fourth in Revelation 18, we are specifically told that we must leave that which has become “a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” When Mrs. White warned the SDA Church against becoming “a sister to fallen Babylon,” she said that it would become exactly that: “a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.”  Again, this is not a coincidence.

Now among Adventists, if Ellen White was truly a channel of inspiration, we must understand that her warning was to be taken seriously. If she said, “When this thing is not done, such and such will be the reward,” we believe that.  Furthermore, as I mentioned above, my burden is to show that all we believe may be derived directly from the Scriptures themselves.  And so, when the thing is not done, and the warnings go unheeded, we really have no excuse to be taken by surprise when the promised reward arrives.  But now, I include Ellen White only for a specific reason. As I said, it is easy for Laodicea to see the sins and errors of other Churches.  It is easy for even the most worldly Christian to understand that the Trademark Law, and the record of the lawsuits based thereon, is not the “trademark” of a Christian Church.  I have never, in my hearing, heard anyone attempting to justify or defend the General Conference’s actions, except for Adventists themselves.  Is it because Adventists have a higher degree of spiritual discernment, and can therefore see the “good” the “holiness” the “Christ-likeness” in the lawsuits that everyone else misses?

Or could it be, much more likely, that Laodicea is simply being Laodicea?  Blind and wretched and naked while proclaiming itself to be rich and increased with goods?  But Yahweh has said of Laodicea, “I will spue you out of my mouth.”  Should they be surprised that this has now happened?

So even though the Adventist Church is a “sister” and not a “daughter” to fallen Babylon, having another origin and a separate organizational structure, and certainly a distinct set of beliefs, we need to be careful to identify things as Heaven does: “in spirit and in truth.”

In spirit, the mainstream Adventist Church is Babylon Fallen.  It has become worldly in nature. It has taken on pagan characteristics (like reliance upon human might, and human works, to support its institutions). It has begun to speak blasphemy against the Most High by representing itself as His faithful servant while dressed in robes stained with the blood, sweat and tears of martyrs.  In another sense, it has misrepresented the Godhead entirely by its come-lately acceptance of the Trinity doctrine.  This also may be seen as a face of blasphemy, for it is a deception about the nature of the Father and the Son.  And finally, in that corrupt and derelict state of being, it has united with the world, and is now “riding a beast” in every sense of the word that this imagery can signify.  In spirit, we declare with the judgment of Heaven, and certainly not our own, that “Babylon has fallen,” and those who have become corporately guilty of these errors and sins, of fornication with the kings of the world, have but one course of safety open before them: Let them speedily withdraw themselves and touch not the unclean thing, then (that is not the end of the story) Yahweh will “receive” them unto Himself. (2Cor 6:17)

Thus it is in “spirit.”

In “truth,” the mainstream Adventist Church is Babylon Fallen.  Its doctrines are confused. They cannot even agree about a book called Questions on Doctrine.  They cannot agree on the Sanctuary doctrine.  They are very divided on issues like the mode and manner of worship, going to extremes ranging from the Celebration Movement to a mournful, funereal atmosphere in other congregations.  They are not internally cohesive… independent ministries and ministers spring up, each with a wonderful and startling new truth, many with a specific date in mind for the close of probation.  Some who have left have not fully left, having one foot in and one out of the Church.  Some have begun to keep the Convocations of Yahweh, the feast days and (one or two of them) the more-important New Moons.  They know nothing about the Judgment of the Living.  Is this not confusion?  And in this confused state, did they not become a persecuting power?

And here I must add…  It does not do either us or them any good to merely point out errors.  That is easy enough to do.  No, what we must do is present the solution in love, and in kindness.  But the problem is, really, that they must first be made aware there’s a problem at all. Adventists themselves, those not willing to take an honest look at themselves, will most likely deny (only) the last of these things I have mentioned, that the Church has become a persecuting power.  It has, they may say, a “right” to defend itself.  The problem is, I cannot, for any reason, picture the Bride of Christ becoming so desperate and afraid of injury that she must hide in a corner with fangs bared, ready to strike out at anyone who gets too close.  Fortunately, the truth is, that is not the genuine Bride of Christ.  The truth is, only Babylon Fallen acts that way: using force of human law to defend and sustain its institutions.

The Adventists who are faithful, our brethren, who either do not know about these things, or do not know what to do in response… there is hope for these poor souls.  They are told, “Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.” (Zech 2:7)  Daughters and sisters, once again, are exactly the same when it comes to spiritual things.  The sister has become the daughter, has become the mother… and all bear that shameful banner after their fornication with the world: Babylon Fallen.

Interestingly, the word for “deliver” in Zechariah 2 is the Hebrew malat, which means, to “slip away” or “escape” with the connotation of speed.  In 1Sam 27:1 that term is translated as “speedily escape” as David (still a poor shepherd) escaped from Saul (a military king wielding both religious and civil power) who was set in his heart to harm the young man.  There was no time to delay.  Consider that teaching carefully: the poor shepherd, who was about to be king, had to flee, quickly, for a time from a mighty monarch wielding the combined power of church and state.  That is a most applicable parable for our day.