ccc"But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the
coming of the Son of man be." — Matthew 24:37.
ccc
ccc"Idolatry exists in the church-goers today as
verily as in the days of Noah." — KC 49.
ccc
ccc"The law was preserved by Noah and his family,
and Noah taught his descendants the Ten Commandments."
— PP 363, written in 1890.
ccc
ccc"God brought His people out from slavery and
idolatry that they might keep the Sabbath of the fourth
commandment." — ST February 17, 1898; or 3ST 455.
ccc
ccc"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and
yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." — James
2:10.
ccc
ccc"1 And God spake all these Words, saying, 2 I
am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of
Egypt [i.e., out of the land of heathenism or open idolatry], out
of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness
of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth
beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt
not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy
God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon
the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that
hate Me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me,
and keep My commandments. . . 8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep
it holy. . . 23 Ye shall not make with Me gods of silver, neither
shall ye make unto you gods of gold." — Exodus 20:1-6,
8, 23.
ccc
ccc"The first four commandments were given to show
men their duty to God [i.e., therefore, since Exodus 20:4-6
quoted above or God's second commandment shows man's duty to God,
the second commandment thus pertains to: (1.) not making, (2.)
not bowing down to, (3.) nor serving any graven image or any
likeness that is supposedly made to represent God]. . . .
cccAgain the Lord seeks to guard His people against
idolatry . . . making to themselves images to represent
God." — ST May 6, 1880; or 1ST 154.
ccc
ccc"Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God,
we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or
silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device." —
Acts 17:29.
ccc
ccc"All the gods of the people are idols."
— 1 Chronicles 16:26.
ccc
ccc". . . . the gods [i.e., idols] of the heathen
. . . ." — PP 336, written in 1890.
ccc
ccc"Those who claim to be the children of God, and
yet do not obey His commands, who are hearers but not doers of
the Word, are regarded by the Lord as bankers regard fraudulent
bank-notes. They are not genuine. They claim the name of
Christian, but in reality they are heathen. To those who do not
practise it, the Word of God is a dead letter. Christ says of
such, 'I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My
mouth.' If they realized that they were sinners, He could plead
in their behalf, and the Lord would arouse them by His Holy
Spirit [i.e., by His power; by His Latter Rain]. But He can not
present them to the Father; for they are worse than dead in
trespasses and sins. They hear the Word, but make no application
of it to themselves. Instead, they apply the Word to their
neighbors. God can be no power [i.e., no Holy Spirit; no Latter
Rain] to lukewarm Laodiceans." — ST August 2, 1899; or
4ST 50.
ccc
cccTherefore, we remember that "as the days of Noe
were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be"
(Matthew 24:37); and, also, please remember God's warning
regarding heathen, worse than dead, fraudulent, lukewarm
Laodiceans, as seen in the previous inspired quotation cited
immediately above.
ccc
ccc"We may go to the heathen and say to them that
we love the truth and serve the true God; and they will tell you
that they worship the true and living God." — 1SAT 17;
or Manuscript 5, 1885.
ccc
ccc"The sins that destroyed the antediluvians and
the cities of the plain exist today--not merely in heathen lands,
not only among popular professors of Christianity, but with some
who profess to be looking for the coming of the Son of man."
— 5T 217, written in 1882; (and, thus, this inspired counsel
is part of the great "light of 1882" by which God will
pronounce "the church" of the Laodiceans to be
"found wanting," as seen in 5T 83-84).
ccc
ccc"All the men of that generation [i.e., of
Noah's generation] were not in the fullest sense of the term
heathen idolaters. Many had a knowledge of God and His law; but
they not only rejected the message of the faithful preacher of
righteousness themselves, but used all their influence to prevent
others from being obedient to God. To every one comes a day of
trial and of trust. That generation had their day of opportunity
and privilege while Noah was sounding the note of warning of the
coming destruction; but they yielded their minds to the control
of Satan rather than of God, and he deceived them . . . ."
— ST April 1, 1886; or 1ST 28.
ccc
ccc". . . many had been led astray by the Satanic
delusion that God might be represented by material objects, the
works of men's hands. By the contemplation of these things, their
minds were diverted from God." — ST May 19, 1881; or
1ST 227.
ccc
ccc"Anything that diverts the mind from God
assumes the form of an idol, and that is why there is so little
power in the church today." — SD 57.
ccc
ccc"All the gods of the people are idols."
— 1 Chronicles 16:26.
ccc
ccc". . . . the gods [i.e., idols] of the heathen
. . . ." — PP 336, written in 1890.
ccc
ccc"Thou shalt have no other gods [i.e., and/or
idols] before Me." — Exodus 20:3.
ccc
ccc"The first commandment is a requirement in
reference to man's worship." — 2SAT 181; or Manuscript
126, 1901.
ccc
ccc"The second commandment will be easily
disobeyed if the first is not kept." — ST July 2, 1894;
or 3ST 129.
ccc
ccc"Pointing to their statuary and idols [i.e.,
and/or gods], he declared that God could not be likened to forms
of man's devising. These graven images could not, in the faintest
sense, represent the glory [i.e., honor] of Jehovah. He reminded
them that these images had no life [i.e., and/or He reminded them
that these images, idols, gods, or forbidden forms of man's
devising were dead--see PP 684-686; GC 464-465, 478, 556-558],
but were controlled by human power, moving only when the hands of
men moved them . . . ." — AA 237, written in 1911.
ccc
ccc"The first four commandments were given to show
men their duty to God . . . .
cccThe fourth commandment is the connecting link
between the great God and man. All who should observe the Sabbath
would signify by such observance that they were worshipers of the
living God . . . .
cccAgain the Lord seeks to guard His people against
idolatry . . . making to themselves images to represent
God." — ST May 6, 1880; or 1ST 154.
ccc
ccc". . . . idolatry . . . is . . . demon
worship." — PP 685:5, written in 1890.
ccc
ccc"All idolatry is devil worship." —
Author Unknown; ST January 25, 1899.
ccc
ccc"7 Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching
for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the
commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men . . . ."
— Mark 7:7-8.
ccc
ccc"The men of that generation [i.e., the men of
Noah's generation] were not all, in the fullest acceptation of
the term, idolaters. Many professed to be worshipers of God. They
claimed that their idols [i.e., and/or their gods, and/or their
forbidden forms, images, likenesses of man's devising] were
representations of the Deity, and that through them the people
could obtain a clearer conception of the divine Being. This class
were foremost in rejecting the preaching of Noah. As they
endeavored to represent God by material objects, their minds were
blinded to His majesty and power; they ceased to realize the
holiness of His character, or the sacred, unchanging nature of
His requirements." — PP 95-96, written in 1890.
ccc
ccc". . . . a willing obedience to all His
requirements. This is true worship." — DA 189, written
in 1898.
ccc
ccc"23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the
true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth:
for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. 24 God is a Spirit:
and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in
truth." — John 4:23-24.
ccc"7 Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching
for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the
commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men . . . ."
— Mark 7:7-8.
ccc"Again the Lord seeks to guard His people
against idolatry . . . making to themselves images to represent
God." — ST May 6, 1880; or 1ST 154.
ccc"God had given no manner of similitude of
Himself, and He had prohibited any material representation for
such a purpose." — PP 316, written in 1890.
ccc"12 And the Lord spake unto you out of the
midst of the fire: ye heard the Voice of the Words, but saw no
similitude; only ye heard a Voice. 13 And He declared unto you
His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, even ten
commandments; and He wrote them upon two tables of stone. 14 And
the Lord commanded me [i.e., Moses] at that time to teach you
statutes and Judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither
ye go over to possess it. 15 Take ye therefore good heed unto
yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that
the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: 16
Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the
similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, 17 The
likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any
winged fowl that flieth in the air, 18 The likeness of any thing
that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in
the waters beneath the earth." — Deuteronomy 4:12-18.
ccc
ccc"God had given no manner of similitude of
Himself, and He had prohibited any material representation for
such a purpose." — PP 316, written in 1890.
ccc
ccc"To make an image of God dishonors Him."
— 2SAT 184; or Manuscript 126, 1901.
ccc
ccc"In Noah's day all men were not in the fullest
sense heathen idolaters. Many had a knowledge of God and of His
law, but in their grand works of sculpture, in their works of
art, they professed to be honoring God by representing Him in the
works of their own hands in the similitudes which they had made
of God." — ST December 20, 1877; or 1ST 48.
ccc
ccc". . . many had been led astray by the Satanic
delusion that God might be represented by material objects, the
works of men's hands. By the contemplation of these things, their
minds were diverted from God." — ST May 19, 1881; or
1ST 227.
ccc
ccc"Anything that diverts the mind from God
assumes the form of an idol, and that is why there is so little
power in the church today." — SD 57.
ccc
ccc"All the gods of the people are idols."
— 1 Chronicles 16:26.
ccc
ccc"They despised My Judgments, and walked not in
My statutes, but polluted My Sabbaths: for their heart went after
their idols [i.e., and/or after their gods; and/or after their
forbidden forms, images, and likenesses of God made by man's
forbidden devising and forbidden art; and/or after their Satanic
delusion that God might be represented by material objects, the
works of men's hands; and/or after their false worship, vain
worship, and demon worship]." — Ezekiel 20:16.
ccc
ccc"The fourth commandment is the connecting link
between the great God and man. All who should observe the Sabbath
would signify by such observance that they were worshipers of the
living God . . . ." — ST May 6, 1880; or 1ST 154.
ccc
ccc"The Sabbath is not introduced as a new
institution but as having been founded at creation. It is to be
remembered and observed as the memorial of the Creator's work.
Pointing to God as the Maker of the heavens and the earth, it
distinguishes the true God from all false gods [i.e., and/or from
all idols; and/or from all forbidden forms, images, and
likenesses of God made by man's forbidden devising and forbidden
art; and/or from the Satanic delusion that God might be
represented by material objects, the works of men's hands; and/or
from their false worship, vain worship, and demon worship]."
— PP 307, written in 1890.
ccc
ccc"All the gods of the people are idols."
— 1 Chronicles 16:26.
ccc
ccc"'Thou shalt have no other gods [i.e., idols]
before Me,' is the first great command, and upon this command
depends all the rest." — ST August 2, 1899; or 4ST 50.
ccc
ccc"'Thou shalt have no other gods [i.e., idols]
before Me.' is the command of God. Idolatry exists in the
church-goers today as verily as in the days of Noah." —
KC 49.
ccc
ccc"Thou shalt have no other gods [i.e., idols]
before Me." — Exodus 20:3.
ccc
ccc". . . . a willing obedience to all His
requirements. This is true worship." — DA 189, written
in 1898.
ccc
ccc"The first commandment is a requirement in
reference to man's worship." — 2SAT 181; or Manuscript
126, 1901.
ccc
ccc"The second commandment will be easily
disobeyed if the first is not kept." — ST July 2, 1894;
or 3ST 129.
ccc
ccc"The second commandment prohibits man for
worshiping the true God through any creature or image. It forbids
the making of any image which man might try to liken to the
Creator. It forbids the making of an image of any creature to
represent God or to be associated in any way with the worship of
God. . . .
cccTo make an image of God dishonors Him." —
2SAT 181, 184; or Manuscript 126, 1901.
ccc
ccc"And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it
be also in the days of the Son of man." — Luke
17:26-30.
ccc
ccc"Noah's earnestness and zeal in appealing to
them to turn from their evil way, was criticised and jeered at.
God is not in a hurry to carry out His plans; for He is from
everlasting to everlasting. He gives light and opens His truth
more fully to those whom He would have to receive it, that they
in their turn may take up the Words of warning and encouragement,
and give them to others. If men of repute and intelligence refuse
to do this, the Lord will choose other instruments, honoring
those who are looked upon as inferior. If those in positions of
trust will put their whole heart into the work, they may bear the
message for this time, and press the work forward; but God will
honor those who honor Him." — RH October 21, 1890; or
2RH 434.
ccc
ccc"To make an image of God dishonors Him."
— 2SAT 184; or Manuscript 126, 1901.
ccc
ccc"The light of God in nature is shining
continually into the darkness of heathenism, but many who see
this light do not glorify [i.e., honor] the Lord as God. They do
not permit reason to lead them to acknowledge their Creator. They
refuse the Lord, and set up senseless idols [i.e., and/or
senseless gods] to adore. They make images which represent God .
. . ." — ST August 12, 1889; or 2ST 311.
ccc
ccc"To make an image of God dishonors Him."
— 2SAT 184; or Manuscript 126, 1901.
ccc
ccc"Again the Lord seeks to guard His people
against idolatry . . . making to themselves images to represent
God." — ST May 6, 1880; or 1ST 154.
ccc
ccc"Men in Noah's day were not all absolute
idolaters, but in their idolatry they professed to know God, and
in the grand images they had created, their plan was to represent
God before the world." — 10MR 372:1; or Manuscript 5,
1876.
ccc
ccc"As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be
in the days of the Son of man. In the days of Noah, the
wickedness of men reached unto Heaven, and God sent Noah with a
warning that He would destroy the world with a flood of water;
but they had so long given themselves up to selfish and
demoralizing practices, glorifying themselves, that they had put
God and His claims and His honor out of sight and mind."
— YI July 19, 1894.
ccc
ccc"To make an image of God dishonors Him."
— 2SAT 184; or Manuscript 126, 1901.
ccc
ccc"13 If thou turn away thy foot from the
Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the
Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt
honour Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own
pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: 14 Then shalt thou
delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon
the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of
Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."
— Isaiah 58:13-14.
ccc
ccc"To make an image of God dishonors Him."
— 2SAT 184; or Manuscript 126, 1901.
ccc
ccc"To keep the Sabbath holy, we should not even
allow our minds to dwell upon things of a worldly character. And
the commandment includes all within our gates. The inmates of the
house are to lay aside their worldly business during the sacred
hours. All should unite to honor God by willing service upon His
holy day." — PP 307-308, written in 1890.
ccc
ccc"To make an image of God dishonors Him."
— 2SAT 184; or Manuscript 126, 1901.
ccc
ccc"In Noah's day all men were not in the fullest
sense heathen idolaters. Many had a knowledge of God and of His
law, but in their grand works of sculpture, in their works of
art, they professed to be honoring God by representing Him in the
works of their own hands in the similitudes which they had made
of God." — ST December 20, 1877; or 1ST 48.
ccc
ccc"To make an image of God dishonors Him."
— 2SAT 184; or Manuscript 126, 1901.
ccc
ccc". . . many had been led astray by the Satanic
delusion that God might be represented by material objects, the
works of men's hands. By the contemplation of these things, their
minds were diverted from God.
ccc. . . . God would not grant them His favor and
support while they persisted in transgression. If they honored
Him, He would honor them." — ST May 19, 1881; or 1ST
227, 228.
ccc
ccc"To make an image of God dishonors Him."
— 2SAT 184; or Manuscript 126, 1901.
ccc
ccc"The men of that generation [i.e., the men of
Noah's generation] were not all, in the fullest acceptation of
the term, idolaters. Many professed to be worshipers of God. They
claimed that their idols [i.e., and/or that their gods; and/or
that their forbidden forms, images, and likenesses of God made by
man's forbidden devising and so-called art] were representations
of the Deity, and that through them the people could obtain a
clearer conception of the divine Being. This class were foremost
in rejecting the preaching of Noah. As they endeavored to
represent God by material objects, their minds were blinded to
His majesty and power; they ceased to realize the holiness of His
character, or the sacred, unchanging nature of His requirements.
. . .
ccc'Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.' . . .
ccc'Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or
any likeness' . . .
ccc. . . . The attempt to represent the Eternal One by
material objects would lower man's conception of God. The mind,
turned away from the infinite perfection of Jehovah, would be
attracted to the creature rather than to the Creator. And as his
conceptions of God were lowered, so would man become
degraded." — PP 95-96, 305, 306, written in 1890.
ccc
ccc". . . many had been led astray by the Satanic
delusion that God might be represented by material objects, the
works of men's hands. By the contemplation of these things, their
minds were diverted from God." — ST May 19, 1881; or
1ST 227.
ccc
ccc"Anything that diverts the mind from God
assumes the form of an idol [i.e., and/or a god], and that is why
there is so little power in the church today." — SD 57.
ccc
ccc"All the gods of the people are idols."
— 1 Chronicles 16:26.
ccc
ccc"Thou shalt have no other gods [i.e., idols]
before Me." — Exodus 20:3.
ccc
cccThe first commandment is a requirement in reference
to man's worship." — 2SAT 181; or Manuscript 126, 1901.
ccc
ccc"The second commandment will be easily
disobeyed if the first is not kept." — ST July 2, 1894;
or 3ST 129.
ccc
ccc"The men of that generation [i.e., the men of
Noah's generation] were not all, in the fullest acceptation of
the term, idolaters. Many professed to be worshipers of God. They
claimed that their idols [i.e., and/or that their gods; and/or
that their forbidden forms, images, and likenesses of God
wickedly made from men's forbidden devising and forbidden species
of so-called art] were representations of the Deity, and that
through them the people could obtain a clearer conception of the
divine Being. This class were foremost in rejecting the preaching
of Noah. As they endeavored to represent God by material objects,
their minds were blinded to His majesty and power; they ceased to
realize the holiness of His character, or the sacred, unchanging
nature of His requirements. As sin became general, it appeared
less and less sinful, and they finally declared that the divine
law was no longer in force; that it was contrary to the character
of God to punish transgression; and they denied that His
Judgments were to be visited upon the earth. Had the men of that
generation obeyed the divine law, they would have recognized the
Voice of God in the warning of His servant; but their minds had
become so blinded by rejection of light that they really believed
Noah's message to be a delusion.
cccIt was not multitudes or majorities that were on the
side of right. The world was arrayed against God's Justice and
His laws, and Noah was regarded as a fanatic. Satan, when
tempting Eve to disobey God, said to her, 'Ye shall not surely
die.' Genesis 3:4. Great men, worldly, honored, and wise men,
repeated the same. 'The threatenings of God,' they said, 'are for
the purpose of intimidating, and will never be verified. You need
not be alarmed. Such an event as the destruction of the world by
the God who made it, and the punishment of the beings He has
created, will never take place. Be at peace; fear not. Noah is a
wild fanatic.' The world made merry at the folly of the deluded
old man. Instead of humbling the heart before God, they continued
their disobedience and wickedness, the same as though God had not
spoken to them through His servant. . . .
ccc'Thou shalt have no other gods before Me [i.e.,
and/or no idols before Me; and/or no forbidden forms, images, and
likenesses of man's devising before Me; and/or no Satanic
delusion that God might be represented by material objects, the
works of men's hands, before Me; and/or no open idolatry and
Sabbath-polluting before Me; and/or no false worship, vain
worship, and demon worship before Me].'
cccJehovah, the eternal, self-existent, uncreated One,
Himself the Source and Sustainer of all, is alone entitled to
supreme reverence and worship. Man is forbidden to give to any
other object the first place in his affections or his service.
Whatever we cherish that tends to lessen our love for God or to
interfere with the service due Him, of that do we make a god
[i.e., and/or an idol].
ccc'Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or
any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in
the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou
shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them.'
cccThe second commandment forbids the worship of the
true God by images or similitudes. Many heathen nations [i.e., to
include: the heathen church of the Laodiceans both right now and
even still in the day of God, as plainly seen in ST August 2,
1899, or 4ST 50; 7BC 962; and 7BC 970] claimed that their images
were mere figures or symbols by which the Deity was worshiped,
but God has declared such worship to be sin. The attempt to
represent the Eternal One by material objects would lower man's
conception of God. The mind, turned away from the infinite
perfection of Jehovah, would be attracted to the creature rather
than to the Creator. And as his conceptions of God were lowered,
so would man become degraded. . . .
cccBy causing men to violate the second commandment,
Satan aimed to degrade their conceptions of the Divine Being. By
setting aside the fourth, he would cause them to forget God
altogether. God's claim to reverence and worship, above the gods
of the heathen, is based upon the fact that He is the Creator,
and that to Him all other beings owe their existence. . . Had the
Sabbath always been sacredly observed, there could never have
been an atheist or an idolater [i.e., and/or a heathen]."
— PP 95-96, 305-306, 307, 336, written in 1890.
ccc"12 And ye shall know that I am the Lord: for
ye have not walked in My statutes, neither executed My Judgments,
but have done after the manners of the heathen that are round
about you. . . .
ccc1 Again the Word of the Lord came unto me [i.e.,
came unto Ezekiel], saying, 2 Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know
her abominations . . . .
ccc15 Yet also I lifted up My hand unto them in the
wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had
given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of
all lands; 16 Because they despised My Judgments, and walked not
in My statutes, but polluted My Sabbaths: for their heart went
after their idols [i.e., and/or after their gods; and/or after
their forbidden forms, images, and likenesses of man's devising;
and/or after their Satanic delusion that God might be represented
by material objects, the works of men's hands; and/or after their
false worship, vain worship, and demon worship]. . . .
ccc24 Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all
that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall
know that I am the Lord God. . . .
ccc1 The Word of the Lord came again unto me [i.e.,
came again unto Ezekiel], saying, 2 Son of man, prophesy and say,
Thus saith the Lord God; Howl ye, Woe worth the day! 3 For the
day is near, even the day of the Lord is near, a cloudy day; it
shall be the time of the heathen." — Ezekiel 11:12;
16:1-2; 20:15-16; 24:24; 30:1-3.
ccc". . . . Ezekiel not only spoke of things that
concerned . . . present truth, but . . . reached down to the
future, and to what should occur in these last days." —
3SM 419-420; or Letter 132, 1898.
cccTherefore, considering the heathenism and the open
Sabbath-polluting with idols or the abominations that the prophet
Ezekiel said would occur "in these last days" before
"the day of the Lord" [Ezekiel11:12; 20:15-16, 24:24;
30:1-3; 3SM 419-420], and also remembering "as the days of
Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be"
(Matthew 24:37),--please see the openly idolatrous and
Sabbath-polluting, openly "heathen" "form of
godliness" and more discussed to the end of this study, as
follows:
ccc"1 This know also, that in the last days
perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own
selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to
parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection,
trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of
those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of
pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness,
but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." —
2 Timothy 3:1-5.
ccc"There is a disposition among some
Sabbath-keepers [i.e., among some professed Sabbath-keepers] to
rejoice that they have truths that can be sustained by the Word
of God, and that the unbeliever can not gainsay, and they rest
satisfied. They make no advancement in the divine life; their
faith is not made perfect by works; they do not feel their lack
of spirituality, but boast that they have the truth, and they
sometimes advocate it in an unbecoming manner. They feel rich and
increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and know not that
they are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.
What stronger delusion can deceive the human mind than that which
makes us believe we are on the right foundation, and God accepts
our works, when we are not conforming to his will, and when we
mistake the form of godliness for the spirit and power thereof,
supposing we need nothing when we need all things."— RH
November 26, 1881; or 1RH 44.
ccc
ccc"With some there is an outward show, a form of
godliness, but there is no real power; and against them is
pronounced the sentence 'Thou art weighed in the balances, and
found wanting.' They are deficient, yet, in false confidence;
they are deceiving themselves and misleading others. Yielding to
Satan's sophistry, they stand on a false track, and by their
representations endeavor to tear down truths that God has made
fast, never to be moved. By their course, the inexperienced are
led to wonder whether these special truths are not, after all,
errors that ought to be shunned. When brought into strait places,
they will give up the Sabbath and its powerful endorsement, and
the more they are opposed in their apostasy, the more
self-sufficient and self-deceived they become." — 10MR
46-47; or Letter 95, 1905.
ccc
ccc"Said the angel, 'Can such enter Heaven? No,
no, never. Tell them the hope they now possess is vain, and
unless they speedily repent, and get salvation, they must
perish.'
cccA form of godliness will not save them. . . .
cccThe young, as well as the older, will have to give a
reason of their hope. But the mind designed by God for better
things, formed to serve him perfectly, has dwelt upon foolish
things instead of eternal interests. And that mind that is left
to wander here and there, is just as capable of understanding the
truth, the evidence of keeping the Sabbath from the Word of God,
and the true foundation of the Christian's hope, as it is to
study the appearance, the manners, dress, &c. Those who
suffer their minds to be diverted with foolish stories and idle
tales, feed their imagination, but to such the brilliancy of
God's Word is eclipsed. The mind is led directly from God; the
interest in His precious Word is gone." — 4bSG, written
in 1864.
ccc
ccc"Anything that diverts the mind from God
assumes the form of an idol, and that is why there is so little
power in the church today." — SD 57.
ccc
ccc". . . . many had been led astray by the
Satanic delusion that God might be represented by material
objects, the works of men's hands. By the contemplation of these
things, their minds were diverted from God. . . .
ccc . . . The oft-repeated warnings against idolatry .
. . are no less applicable to us. Everything which leads the
affections away from God is an idol, and betrays us into sin. . .
.
cccThe Lord our God is a jealous God. He is just and
holy He will not be trifled with. He reads a deceptive heart. He
abhors a double mind. He hates lukewarmness." — ST May
19, 1881; or 1ST 227, 228.
ccc
ccc"Anything that diverts the mind from God
assumes the form of an idol, and that is why there is so little
power in the church today." — SD 57.
ccc
ccc"All the gods of the people are idols."
— 1 Chronicles 16:26.
ccc
ccc"They despised My Judgments, and walked not in
My statutes, but polluted My Sabbaths: for their heart went after
their idols [i.e., after their gods; and/or after their forbidden
images and likenesses, which a deluded people make to supposedly
represent God; and/or after their Satanic delusion that God might
be represented by material objects, the works of men's hands;
and/or after their open idolatry, or vain worship and demon
worship]." — Ezekiel 20:16.
ccc
ccc"All the gods of the people are idols."
— 1 Chronicles 16:26.
ccc
ccc"Thou shalt have no other gods before Me."
— Exodus 20:3.
ccc
ccc"The first commandment is a requirement in
reference to man's worship." — 2SAT 181; or Manuscript
126, 1901.
ccc
ccc"The second commandment will be easily
disobeyed if the first is not kept." — ST July 2, 1894;
or 3ST 129.
ccc
cccThou shalt have no other gods before Me."
— Exodus 20:3.
ccc
ccc". . . . the gods [i.e., idols] of the heathen
. . . ." — PP 336, written in 1890.
ccc
ccc"'This know also, that in the last days
perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own
selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to
parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection,
trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of
those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of
pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of
godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away [2
Timothy 3:1-5].'
cccThe class here mentioned by the apostle are not
mere heathen." — ST December 5, 1895; or 3ST
257.
ccc
ccc"Christ presented the requirements of God's law
with great force and clearness, but many of His hearers turned
away, careless and indifferent. And to-day God's ministers preach
the Word with power sent down from Heaven, but
on the minds of many no permanent impression is made. The
messages given by God are not received and practised. It is not
thought necessary to bring the controlling power of God
into the daily and hourly transactions of life. God is not known
by an experimental knowledge, and therefore He can not encircle
them with the realities of the unseen world. The eternal reward
of the righteous does not impress their minds. The great
day of the Lord, which is right upon us, awakens neither
alarm nor rejoicing in their hearts. They have a form of
godliness, but not the power of the truth. Wrapped in
self, nothing can help them till they realize their true
condition.
cccThose who claim to be the children of God, and yet
do not obey His commands, who are hearers but not doers of the
Word, are regarded by the Lord as bankers regard fraudulent
bank-notes. They are not genuine. They claim the name of
Christian, but in reality they are heathen. To
those who do not practise it, the Word of God is a dead letter. Christ
says of such, 'I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because
thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out
of My mouth.' If they realized that they were sinners,
He could plead in their behalf, and the Lord would arouse them by
His Holy Spirit [i.e., by His power; by His
Latter Rain]. But He can not present them to the
Father; for they are worse than dead in
trespasses and sins. They hear the Word, but make no application
of it to themselves. Instead, they apply the Word to their
neighbors. God can be no power [i.e., no Holy
Spirit; no Latter Rain] to lukewarm Laodiceans."
— ST August 2, 1899; or 4ST 50.
ccc"'Speak unto us smooth things; prophesy
deceits.' Many are daily cheating their souls with a form
of godliness without the power; but the Lord has removed His
smile and the inspiration of His Spirit from them. His
displeasure is against them, because their deeds are evil. He
demands decided changes in the life and character. Good
intentions, good resolutions, good acts, cannot be accepted as
substitutes for repentance, faith, and willing obedience.
cccThe people are too willing to believe their teachers
without careful thought and prayerful investigation of God's
Word. They love to have their consciences quieted,--love to be
rocked to sleep in the cradle of carnal security. In their blind
selfishness, they deceive themselves in those things wherein they
are willing to be deceived. Our Saviour declared to the
Pharisees, 'Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life.' And
in His conversation with Nicodemus He said, 'Every one that doeth
evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his
deeds should be reproved.' So in this age; the church
will neither search the Scriptures nor listen to the truth, lest
her works be reproved. She is more willing to depart from the
commandments of God than from the customs and friendship of the
world. And because great men and worldly wise men are in her
favor, because numbers and temporal prosperity are hers, she
believes herself favored of God,--'rich, and increased with
goods, and in need of nothing.'
cccBut earthly prosperity is no evidence of the favor
of God." — ST March 6, 1884; or 1ST 415.
ccc"Those who make a profession of being
Christians, that is, Christlike, and who yet live a life of sin,
cast dishonor upon the truth of God. Many of this class trample
upon the law of God, and teach others that its precepts are not
binding, and yet they presume to take the name of Jesus upon
their lips, and talk of being saved by His grace. Such teaching
tends to enfeeble the moral tone of the church,
and true godliness is banished while a miserable, heartless,
outward form of godliness remains. Such
come under the rebuke of Christ when He says, 'I would thou wert
cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold
nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.' 'Thou sayest, I am
rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and
knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and
blind, and naked.'
ccc'To the law and to the Testimony; if they speak not
according to this Word, it is because there is no light in
them.'" — RH August 28, 1894; or 3RH 181.
ccc"'Salt is good; but if the salt have lost his
savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the
land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out.' Salt
possesses preservative qualities which prevent corruption. . . .
cccBut of how much value is salt that has lost its
savor? When those who claim to be Christians, do not in their
words and actions reveal the attributes of Christ, they are
represented as salt that has lost its savor. Whatever may be
their profession, they are looked upon by men and angels as
insipid and disagreeable. Of such Christ says: 'I would
thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and
neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.' They
have a form of godliness, a profession of religion; but it is
contradicted by their lives." — ST November 7,
1895; or 3ST 251.
ccc
ccc"Of the vast population of the earth before the
Flood, only eight souls believed and obeyed God's Word
through Noah. For a hundred and twenty years the
preacher of righteousness warned the world of the coming
destruction, but his message was rejected and despised. So
it will be now. Before the Lawgiver shall come to punish
the disobedient, transgressors are warned to repent, and return
to their allegiance; but with the majority these warnings will be
in vain. Says the apostle Peter, 'There shall come in the
last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and
saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers
fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the
beginning.' 2 Peter 3:3, 4. Do we not hear these very words
repeated, not merely by the openly ungodly, but by many who
occupy the pulpits of our land? 'There is no cause for alarm,'
they cry. 'Before Christ shall come, all the world is to be
converted, and righteousness is to reign for a thousand years.
Peace, peace! all things continue as they were from the
beginning. Let none be disturbed by the exciting message of these
alarmists.' But this doctrine of the millennium does not
harmonize with the teachings of Christ and His apostles. Jesus
asked the significant question, 'When the Son of man cometh,
shall He find faith on the earth?' Luke 18:8. And, as we
have seen, He declares that the state of the world will be as in
the days of Noah. Paul warns us that we may look for
wickedness to increase as the end draws near: 'The Spirit
speaketh expressly, that in the latter times
some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing
spirits, and doctrines of devils.' 1 Timothy 4:1. The apostle
says that 'in the last days perilous times shall
come.' 2 Timothy 3:1. And he gives a startling list of sins that
will be found among those who have a form of godliness. .
. .
ccc. . . . 'As it was in the days of Noah,'
'even thus shall it be in the days when the Son of man is
revealed.' Luke 17:26, 30. 'The day of the Lord will come as a
thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with
a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the
earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.' 2
Peter 3:10." — PP 102-103, 104, written in
1890.
ccc"'This know also, that in the last days
perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own
selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to
parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection,
trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of
those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of
pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of
godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away [2
Timothy 3:1-5].'
cccThe class here mentioned by the apostle are not
mere heathen." — ST December 5, 1895; or 3ST
257.
ccc"And as it was in the days of Noe, so
shall it be also in the days of the Son of man." — Luke
17:26.
ccc
Pastor Michael O. Hodges
FORERUNNER, self-supporting ministries
Home church (since 1983)
Pastor Michael O. Hodges
Copyright 2006.
Permission is hereby given to reprint any
of these studies and articles provided that they are duplicated
in their entirety without any change or comment.