Shaking before the Latter Rain: Leaving to be filled-up again


Koot van Wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD) Visiting Professor, Department of Liberal Education, Kyungpook National University, Sangju Campus, South Korea, Conjoint lecturer of Avondale College, Australia.


For the church 2016 is very eventful. Not only for the Seventh-day Adventist Church but also other churches: On the 22th of August 300 denominations would meet in Munich for the ecumenical gathering. On the 9th of October the paper of dr. Ng et al from the General Conference arrived on Unity and Uniformity on biblical principles, GC sessions decisions on woman ordination and other issues. The following day, 10th of October Kevin D. Paulsen and Larry Kirkpatrick wrote an article on the “false claims and answers about authority and unity in the church”. The 11th of October the GC announced on their Website about rebellious unions and what to do about it. This is the day the vote came out by the GC to be conciliatory about the NAD et al to come in line with the biblical principles.

 

On the 17th of October appeared the shocked announcement by Prof. I. Brink of the Calvinistic Afrikaans Protestant Church that he lamented that the Calvinistic Dutch Reform Church of South Africa followed by the Calvinistic Dutch Reformed Church of Africa decided to allow same-sex relationships aligning with the global jurisdiction axioms focusing on the equality of genders. In principle it means the following: “A human is no longer a man or woman but a choice to be the one or the other,” according to global jurisdiction since 2006/2007 announced by the President of the European Union that year from Germany. (On the 20th of June 2008 same sex-weddings became legal in California, but was cancelled due to the Mormons agitation in November 2008). Agitation and civil right movements, no matter how right the cause, is unbiblical. This is the Adventist position.

 

Some interesting ideas regarding the Bible and woman ordination was dealt with in September 2016. On the 23rd of September appeared the interesting article on woman ordination in Seventh-day Adventism by John Witcombe “NPUC Constituency –Why the Ordination Controversy Matters”. 

Woman Ordination comparing priesthood of all believers and ordination.png


The Green column is the priesthood of all believers and the red column is the ordination of elders, unrelated to the priesthood of all believers. The green is the unordained men and women serving God and the red is based on 1 Timothy 2:11 through 3:7 and Titus 1:5-9.

It is interesting that in all churches there is a call over the globe for their denominations to stand by the Bible or to deviate from it and stand by modern cultural perceptions and human’s current experience of it. That is what prof. I. Brink was lamenting on the 17th of October about the three Calvinistic Churches of South Africa: Wanneer die NHKA in hulle besluit verklaar dat “elkeen in terme van sy of haar gewete en verstaan van die Bybel daarmee handel”, ontbloot dit die feit dat die Bybel ondergeskik gestel word aan die mens se behoeftes en begeertes, met die gevolg dat die tydsgees en die praxis van die samelewing die besluite, asook die Skrifverklaring van die kerk beheers. Dit laat die vraag ontstaan of die NHKA, wat hierdie saak betref, nie sy roeping om suurdeeg en lig in die wêreld te wees, versaak het nie. [When the Dutch Reformed Church of Africa in their decision declare that ‘everyone should deal with the Bible in terms of his/her conscience and understanding’, it reveals the fact that the Bible is placed in a subordinate position with humanity’s needs and desires, that the world trend and practice of the society is ruling the decisions as well as the hermeneutics of the Scripture by the church. It raises the question whether the Dutch Reformed Church of Africa [following the Dutch Reform Church weeks before] concerning this issue, did not forsake its mission to be the yeast and light of the world”.

 

Are Seventh-day Adventists just following the Roman Catholic Church exegesis of the Bible here? Thomas Aquinas stated in strong terms that woman should not have spiritual jurisdiction. This is very absolute. In the Adventist church, woman have the power of jurisdiction. It is preserved to the case of woman ordination only as the bible specified that Adventists make their position. See the position of Aquinas in the (sources) below.

 

The Mormon church reacted three days after the legalization of gay marriage in California on the 20th of June 2008. “the new president of the Mormons Thomas S. Monson asked contribution to help pass Proposition 8 which would condemn this new decision. To counter gay marriage they: 25000 walking door to door; ran a speakers bureau, distributed hundreds of lawn signs along with campaign literature, had 100 000 members working on election day, created several slick “Yes on Prop 8” web sites, produced nine commercials, created four video broadcasts , conducted two satellite simulcasts over five Western states. Fred Karger reporting for the Huffington Post. Prop 8 victory ended gay marriage for thousands in California and complaints came in 20th of November 2008. Many left the church.” This was the experience when they tried to stand firm on these issues.

 

On the 16th of October appeared also the article of warning to the Seventh-day Adventist church by Andrew Henriques, “Beware of ‘He Said Go Missions Conference.’ GC, NAD at War over Voted Policy. Yet Unite on Mission”. He is talking about a conference that will feature Dwight Nelson, the pastor of Oakwood University and the pastor of La Sierra University. “The three that are among the lineup of speakers are Dwight Nelson, Senior Pastor of pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University and professor at Andrews Theological Seminary; Carlton Byrd, Senior Pastor of the Oakwood University Church and speaker/director of the Breath of Life television broadcast; and Sam Leonor, Chaplain at La Sierra University.” Nelson is singled out for his comments that Abraham’s God was Allah on video. “Carlton Byrd is known to preach a popular, social, “feel-good message,” clearly not rooted in the historic, distinctive messages of Adventism. He is also well-known for inviting renowned, worldly, “gospel” singers (from the fallen churches of Babylon) to his church to entertain attendees. He is also known for using money designated for the service of God to bestow various awards upon worldly athletes, entertainers and political figures, some of which include Hollywood producer, Devon Franklin and his wife, actress Meagan Goode, former professional basketball player Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Congressman John Lewis, and Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee.” About Sam Leonor, Henriques indicated: “Sam Leonor, as mentioned before, is also scheduled to speak at the “He Said Go Mission Conference.” Pastor Leonor is a board member of the One Project Movement along with Alex Bryan (the chair and founder of the movement) and others. The One Project Movement, simply put, is a part of the emerging church movement, which minimizes standards, contemporizes worship and urges moving away from foundational pillars of faith and emphasizes relationships and various spiritual exercises that are nothing more than forms of eastern meditation techniques rooted in spiritualism. The mission statement of the One Project Movement is “Jesus.All.” or “Jesus…full-stop. All… full-stop.”(note 10 in Henriques sources). At its first meeting, or gathering, as they refer to it, Sam Leonor made the following statement concerning end-time eschatology: “End-time charts don’t fit with Jesus’ insistence, in Acts 1:7, that we cannot ‘know the times or periods.’”

 

Just when the GC decision to reckon with the NAD et al rebels with their culture over Bible approach, was made, the church mouse [anonymous contributor] reported about the president of the NAD and his attitude regarding the matter the last few days at Andrews University Seminary: “On Tuesday morning, 10-18-2016, Dan Jackson attended  a worship meeting held in the chapel of the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI. He (Dan Jackson) was introduced by Jiri Moskala, Dean of the Seminary who stated that "Dan Jackson preached good news without an agenda and that he favored ministry for all, even women."  Faculty and students present applauded and cheered, possibly not realizing in that moment that the statement was self-contradictory. Just before Jackson spoke, a lady removed the drums from the platform.  Jackson stated that he wants to learn to play drums when he retires.  He said when he was young his parents didn't allow him to, and then when he was a pastor, that others in the church didn't support them either.  He began his talk by saying that the vote at Annual Council didn't change a thing.  Jackson claimed that news was spreading in the South America Division that he would be dismissed at Annual Council, and spoke of how emotionally hurtful this experience was for him.The NAD president stated that he was saddened by the vote at Annual Council.  He disagrees, he says, with the reconciliation document being treated like Scripture.  After he said this there was more clapping. He mentioned that he is Canadian, and praised America for their role in fighting for cultural issues.  Just at the election in America is culturally charged, he said there is a culture war going on in the church as well.  He said the NAD will not turn away or change their minds.  They will pursue their course and they are not innocent anymore [whatever that means].  They are developing strategy but will not share it.  Jackson said that unlike Donald Trump, he actually has a strategy.  More clapping.”

 

Listen to Ellen White about the End Time:

“All who neglect the word of God to study convenience and policy that they may not be at variance with the world, will be left to receive damnable heresy for religious truth” (EGW GC 523).

 

From the online Revived by His word SDA Devotional Commentary on Daniel, the following thoughts about the Shaking and Latter Rain just before the End:

“The Book of Daniel was to be sealed for the time of the end (v. 4). After 1798 = the time of the end (11:35), fuller understanding of it was to be obtained. Knowledge also increased rapidly as we speak (v. 4). We know it is 1798 for in verses 5-6 a conversation was between an angel on this side of the river Tigris in front of Daniel speaking to an elevated one in linen, who answered his question: How long? as "time, times and half a time" which Daniel understood as the year of the hemerological cuneiform texts as 360 days = time; 360 + 360 days = times; and 180 days = half a time, totaling 1260 days-years. "When the power of the holy ones [faithful remnant] has been finally broken, all these things will be completed" (v. 7).

(Devotional Commentary on Daniel 59)

The power of the holy ones [faithful remnant] was not broken in 1798, and there still remains a shock of the Great Shaking ahead followed by the Latter Rain of filling-up the empty seats. Daniel heard but did not understand, because the persecution was to be from 538-1798 for 1260 years, but when will the power of the holy ones be completely destroyed? He wanted to know when is the end of the end "what will be the outcome of all this?" What will happen then? The message came that Daniel had to go his way because the words are closed up and sealed up until the end (v. 9). It appears as if the one speaking to Daniel is from here on providing information after the 1798 period. The faithful will be triumphant and be purified and made spotless through sanctification and testing of their faith in Christ daily Righteousness available to their lives, and they will stop their wicked ways (v. 10). But, the wicked will continue their bad habits, their cover-up of continual sins, their half-hearted participation in God's true worship, lipservice instead of heart surrendering. However, those who are wise in God's word and walking with Christ and His Spirit, ‘will understand’.”

 

Sources:

1.     http://apk.co.za/index.php/kerknuus/algemene-kerknuus

2.     Kevin D. Paulsen, Larry Kirkpatrick, “God’s End-time Church is to be an Organized Church,” Online accessed on 12th of October 2016 at http://ordinationtruth.com/2016/10/10/gods-end-time-church-organized-church/

3.     http://www.fulcrum7.com/news/2016/10/19/the-defiance-continues-news-from-the-nad-front

4.     http://klerun.blogspot.com/2016/08/ministy-vs-office.html

5.     Source: Thomas Aquinas, “Whether priests alone have the keys?” in Question. 19 - OF THE MINISTERS OF THE KEYS (SIX ARTICLES)” in “SUPPLEMENT (XP): TO THE THIRD PART OF THE SUMMA THEOLOGICA” in “Third Part (TP) of the Summa Theologica (QQ[1] - 90)” in Summa Theologica, by St. Thomas Aquinas, [1947], at sacred-texts.com. Online accessed 21st of August 2016 at http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/aquinas/summa/sum635.htm

“Reply to Objection 4: According to the Apostle (1 Tim. 2:11; Titus 2:5), woman is in a state of subjection: wherefore she can have no spiritual jurisdiction, since the Philosopher also says (Ethic. viii) that it is a corruption of public life when the government comes into the hands of a woman. Consequently a woman has neither the key of order nor the key of jurisdiction. Nevertheless a certain use of the keys is allowed to women, such as the right to correct other women who are under them, on account of the danger that might threaten if men were to dwell under the same roof.”

6.     F. Karger, “Mormon Church Bleeding Members over Gay-Marriage” http:///D:/Mormon%20Church%20Bleeding%20Members%20Over%20Gay%20Marriage.html

7.     Carlton ByrdDwight NelsonHe Said Go Missions ConferenceNADNew OrganizationSam Leonor

8.     Sources cited by Andrew Henriques includes the following:

1. http://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/story4458-annual-council-approves-measure-to-encourage-adherence-to-church-policies 2. http://spectrummagazine.org/article/2016/10/12/three-takeaways-annual-council-unity-vote
3. http://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/mark-finley-offers-5-steps-for-resolving-disunity-on-women%E2%80%99s-ordination

4. http://www.nadadventist.org/article/1073743345/news/current-and-archived-news-stories/2016-news-current-archives/10-12-16-an- open-letter-from-dan-jackson-to-female-pastors-in-the-north-american-division
5. White, Ellen. Testimonies for the Church, Volume 6 (1901), page 370
6. http://hesaidgo.net/
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b-6PS8J528
8. Nelson, Dwight, God’s Dream for You (2016), page 301
9. http://www.nadadventist.org/article/1073743338/news/current-and-archived-news-stories/2016-news-current-archives/10-3-16-breath- of-life-speaker-director-carlton-p-byrd-to-receive-naacp-award
10. https://the1project.org/about/faq
11. http://spectrummagazine.org/article/charles-scriven/2014/02/14/jesusfull-stopallfull-stop
12. http://www.fulcrum7.com/blog/2016/9/9/a-day-at-the-one-project?rq=day+one+project
13. http://spectrummagazine.org/article/2016/09/27/response-william-johnsson%E2%80%99s-one-project-concerns-and-some-concerns- my-own

8. Church Mouse, “The Defiance Continues – News From the N.A.D. Front” 16th of October 2016. Online accessed on 21st of October 2016 at http://www.fulcrum7.com/news/2016/10/19/the-defiance-continues-news-from-the-nad-front