http://www.lastdisciple.com

“Seek the truth – Listen to the truth – Teach the truth – Love the truth – Abide by the truth – And defend the truth – Unto death.”

John Huss (A.D. 1370-1415)

January 1st, 2002

Subject: Open letter to the International Missionary Society of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Reform Movement

We are withdrawing our membership from the SDA Reform Movement (http://www.imssdarm.org) immediately. We do so after much thought, study and prayer. We realize that what follows will be hard to swallow for many, but a sobering truth is preferable to a sweet lie.

Our reasons for this action are as follows:

 

1)      Judged by Jesus Christ

 

First of all, Jesus Christ urges us to test all prophetic movements by their fruit (Matthew 7:15-20), not by their professions, creeds, dogmas, or appearances. A good tree brings forth only good fruit (Matthew 7:17), not a mix of good and bad. All trees not bearing good fruit will be cut down (Matthew 7:19) and burned. During our years in the SDA Reform Movement (IMS), we have seen so much bad fruit that we feel ill: self-righteousness, jealousy, power struggles, gossip, back biting, envy, back stabbing, spiritual pride, lack of interest in spiritual life and truth, and hypocrisy (compare with John 13:35). No wonder that so many members become dead spiritually from such a toxic diet. The words of Christ tell me that the IMS tree is bad and will be pulled out by the roots and burned in the end. Shall we listen to men’s endless excuses or to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? The salt that has lost its savor will be cast out and trampled by men because it is good for nothing (Matthew 5:13).

 

We gladly acknowledge that there are some members who exhibit some good fruit and love. However, this does not qualify the organization as a good tree. The Catholic Church also has members who exhibit some good fruit and love. Of course, that does not qualify their organization as the true church. Unless of course, the IMS would like to claim that they are as much a true church as the Roman Catholic (which we don’t think they will).

 

2)      Judged by its own standard

The IMS fails the test of Jesus Christ. Does it fail its own test?

The SDA Reform Movement professes high regard for the Spirit of Prophecy (the writings of Ellen G. White). We are told that “the true church will highly value this gift, accept it with thankfulness, and follow the instructions the Lord has given. Whenever a church disregards or despises this gift, it despises the way that God desires to lead and bless them. Proverbs 29:18; 2 Chronicles 20:20.” This statement appears in “Principles of Faith” (Article 22) published in 1991 by the General Conference of the IMS. Though the IMS pays much lip service to Ellen White, it ignores many of her counsels when it is convenient for them. Let us consider some statements:

·        “We are not to make the use of flesh food a test of fellowship…” Testimonies for the Church Volume 9, page 159. (which IMS does make a test of fellowship)

·        “I saw that Sister Jones, as yet, has no right to marry another man; but if she, or any other woman, should obtain a divorce legally on the ground that her husband was guilty of adultery, then she is free to be married to whom she chooses.” Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce. page 79 (which IMS denies)

·        “There is only one sin, which is adultery, which can place the husband or wife in a position where they can be free from the marriage vow in the sight of God.” Manuscript Releases Volume One, page 159. (which IMS denies)

 

Why does the IMS completely ignore these statements from the pen of Ellen White while it professes to follow her counsels? Ellen White herself warns against picking and choosing what she wrote. Yet, the IMS does this and shuts the door to honest believers.

In the words of the IMS, if a church disregards or despises this gift, it despises the way that God desires to lead and bless them. Therefore, we can safely conclude, following the reasoning of the IMS, that:

1)      The IMS “despises the way that God desires to lead them”

2)      And therefore the IMS cannot be the true church.

 

I took this up with Branko Cholich, an official of the General Conference working for the IMS. He told me that the position of the IMS is “new advancing light”. My next question was: Why does the “advancing light” of the IMS contradict Ellen White, while it still regards her writings as authoritative in practice? To that, of course, I received no reply. There isn’t any. It is ironic that the IMS is discredited even by its own false prophetess.

 

 

3)      Judged by the Gospel

 

We would suggest the third test to be doctrinal. Is the teaching of the IMS true and in harmony with the Bible?

Through our rigorous research, we discovered that:

a.       The writings of Ellen White are, for the most part, plagiarized. Her visions and books were mostly copied from the previously published books of others. She made false prophecies and lied to cover up. To say that she meets the requirements of a true prophet is ludicrous. To deny this is to share in the collective dishonesty of the church that is unwilling to accept the facts. (see the book list below for info on real Ellen White)

b.      The doctrine of investigative judgment is a heretical teaching: it has no Biblical support and denies the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Reading Daniel 7,8,9 and Hebrews 9 in context does not support and denies the Adventist interpretation. This is acknowledged by Adventist scholars with expert knowledge in the key exegetical areas; to deny it is to affirm that one is clueless or dishonest. (see the book list below) If you think otherwise, I invite you to consider my $ 10,000 challenge to Seventh-day Adventists on my web site.

 

How did we arrive at such conclusions? To those who desire to honestly search for truth, we attach an alphabetical list of helpful publications (the 3 most important works are in bold):

Anderson, Dirk. White Out.

Barnett, Maurice. Ellen G. White and Inspiration

Cleveland, Sydney. White-washed, Uncovering the Myths of Ellen G. White.

Ford, Desmond. Daniel 8:14, The Day of Atonement and the Investigative Judgment.

Ford, Desmond. Good News for the SDAs.

Ford, Desmond. Daniel and The Coming King.

Ford, Desmond. Right with God Right Now.

Gladson, Jerry. A Theologian’s Journey from SDAism to Mainstream Christianity.

Ratzlaf, Dale. Cultic Doctrine of the SDAs.

Rea, Walter. White Lie.

Slattery, Wallace. Are SDAs False Prophets? A Former Insider Speaks Out.

  Most of these publications can be ordered through the Internet (www.ratzlaf.com).

  We have also set up a web site. The web site address is: http://www.lastdisciple.com. It has many studies for those wish to know the truth. I also posted my personal testimony of my journey into and out of SDAism, that honestly tells about my experience as a member of the IMS. I suggest it to you as a complementary reading.

  Those who wish to ignore these facts are clearly those who are dishonest before God and the love of truth is not in them. Real truth has nothing to lose by examination. Refusal to consider evidence is a sure sign of a cultic and a false religion.

 

Conclusion

  In conclusion: The IMS fails each of the 3 tests of a true church. It stands condemned 1) by Christ, 2) by its own standard, and 3) by the Gospel . Thus, in reality, it is more of a “Deformation”, rather than a “Reformation” and qualifies as being “toxic faith”.

As honest Christians, we cannot remain members of the IMS.

Shall we obey God or shall we obey the IMS and Adventism (Acts 5:29)?

We chose to obey God.

“Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops” Luke 12:3.

We cling to the Word of God. We realize that our commitment to Jesus Christ and the Bible reflected in our decision to leave will offend some, if not most, of our former adventist friends. We simple pray and hope that others will have enough courage to at least consider our reasons. Christ asks us for no less.

Thank God for Jesus Christ who always causes us to triumph and rejoice in the Cross-and in the great Salvation that comes with it.

At the Cross now and ever,

(signatures)