Question:

cccYes, under the circumstances that you mention, this idea of being “enfeebled" and "defective” [TM 15] to hide, excuse, or cover-up evil or wrongs is a perversion of inspiration. It is a misuse and a misquoting of God’s Word. Decided action should be taken to correct evils. Misquoting inspiration to cover-up false paths in the church is just such an evil. Remember, Satan perverts and misquotes Scripture and men follow his example, as we have been forewarned:

ccc“All should become familiar with God’s Word; because Satan perverts and misquotes Scripture, and men follow his example by presenting part of God’s Word to those whom they wish to lead in false paths, withholding that part which would spoil their plans. All have the privilege of becoming acquainted with a plain 'Thus saith the Lord.' . . .
cccThere are false shepherds who will say and do perverse things. Children should be so instructed that they will be familiar with God’s Word, and be able to know when part of a Scripture is read and part left unread in order to make a false impression.” — Ev 591, "Dealing With False Science, Cults, Isms and Secret Societies;" or MS 153, 1899.
ccc
cccThe quote that you mention,--which is routinely and commonly being perverted by lukewarm, Laodicean, false shepherds as we shall see--is derived from the 1893 General Conference Daily Bulletin, page 408; or GCDB February 27, 1893. It is also found in the Ellen White book, Testimonies To Ministers And Gospel Workers, which is abbreviated TM. Recently, we were informed of lay brethren who asked to purchase a copy of this book, TM, at an ABC. Spuriously or falsely, they were told that TM was only for ministers. This is very wrong!

ccc“Satan is . . . constantly pressing in the spurious [i.e., the false; the untrue; the fraudulent; and/or the not genuine]--to lead away from the truth. The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the Testimony of the Spirit of God. ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish’ (Prov. 29:18). Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God's remnant people [i.e., of God's true remnant people, who will be Judged to be such by Christ in His on-going Investigative Judgment taking place in the Heavenly Sanctuary right now] in the true Testimony.
cccThere will be a hatred kindled against the Testimonies which is satanic. The workings of Satan will be to unsettle the faith of the churches in them, for this reason: Satan cannot have so clear a track to bring in his deceptions and bind up souls in his delusions if the warnings and reproofs and counsels of the Spirit of God are heeded.” — 1SM 48; or Letter 12, 1890, and Letter 40, 1890.

ccc“. . . . aiding the enemy [i.e., see below] . . . The term ‘lukewarm’ is applicable to this class.” — 4T 87, written in 1876.

ccc“Satan has come down in these last days to work with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish. His satanic majesty works miracles in the sight of false prophets, in the sight of men, claiming that he is indeed Christ Himself. Satan gives his power [i.e., his heathen power] to those who are aiding [i.e., see above or below] him in his deceptions; therefore those who claim to have the great power of God can only be discerned by the great detector, the law of Jehovah. The Lord tells us if it were possible they would deceive the very elect. The sheep's clothing seems so real, so genuine, that the wolf can be discerned only as we go to God's great moral standard and there find that they are transgressors of the law of Jehovah [i.e., open, often times impenitent, and thus perishing transgressors of the law of Jehovah].” — 6BC 1106:1:2; or RH August 25, 1885.

ccc“. . . . aiding the enemy [i.e., aiding Satan, the god of ancient and modern heathenism] . . . The term ‘lukewarm’ is applicable to this class. . . .
cccThe only hope for the Laodiceans is a clear view of their standing before God, a knowledge of the nature of their disease. . . .
cccFaith and love are the true richs, the pure gold which the True Witness counsels the lukewarm to buy. However rich we may be in earthly treasure, all our wealth will not enable us to buy the precious remedies that cure the disease of the soul called lukewarmness [i.e., and/or that cure the highly contagious, passed-by-unguarded-contact, ignored-by-the-great-mass-of-lukewarm-Laodicean-doctors, eternally deadly disease of the soul called lukewarmness, or called aiding the enemy, or called aiding Satan]. . . .
cccFearful is the power of self-deception [i.e., the heathen power of self-deception] on the human mind! What blindness! setting light for darkness and darkness for light [i.e., see and compare below, and notice the dates]!” — 4T 87, 88, written in 1876.

ccc"Spiritualist teachers [i.e., and/or heathen teachers] virtually . . . 'put darkness for light, and light for darkness.' [Isaiah 5:20.]. . . .
cccIt is true that spiritualism [i.e., and/or a modernized form of ancient heathenism] is now changing its form, and, veiling some of its more objectionable features, is assuming a Christian guise." — GC 557, 558, written in 1888.

ccc"Spiritualism is a lie. It is founded on the great original lie, 'Thou shalt not surely die.' " — ST November 13, 1884; or 1ST 470.

ccc"Many are Laodiceans, living in a spiritual self-deception. . . their whole life being a lie [i.e., and/or their whole life being spiritualism]." — 7BC 962:2:1; or Letter 66, 1894.

ccc"Modern spiritualism, resting upon the same foundation, is but a revival [i.e., Satan's on-going, 'latter times,' 'counterfeit' 'revival' of 'spiritualism,' and/or of secretly disguised 'witchcraft and demon worship,' and/or of 'heathenism,' and of much more, as seen in PP 684-686 and in GC 464-465, 556-558] in a new form of the witchcraft and demon worship that God condemned and prohibited of old. It is foretold in the Scriptures, which declare that 'in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.' 1 Timothy 4:1. Paul, in his second letter to the Thessalonians, points to the special working of Satan in spiritualism as an event to take place immediately before the second advent of Christ. Speaking of Christ's second coming, he declares that it is 'after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders [i.e., with all false, or spiritualistic, or heathen power and signs and lying wonders].' 2 Thessalonians 2:9. And Peter, describing the dangers to which the church was to be exposed in the last days, says that as there were false prophets who led Israel into sin, so there will be false teachers . . . .
cccSatan was determined to keep his hold on the land of Canaan, and when it was made the habitation of the children of Israel, and the law of God was made the law of the land, he hated Israel with a cruel and malignant hatred and plotted their destruction. Through the agency of evil spirits strange gods were introduced; and because of transgression, the chosen people were finally scattered from the Land of Promise. This history Satan is striving to repeat in our day." — PP 686, 688-689, written in 1890.

ccc"History is repeating. . . .
cccWhen Satan has undermined faith in the Bible, he directs men to other sources for light and power [i.e., to other sources for heathen, satanic, so-called light and heathen power]. Thus he insinuates himself. Those who turn from the plain teaching of Scripture and the convicting power of God's Holy Spirit are inviting the control of demons. Criticism and speculation concerning the Scriptures have opened the way for spiritualism and theosophy--those modernized forms of ancient heathenism--to gain a foothold even in the professed churches of our Lord Jesus Christ.
cccSide by side with the preaching of the Gospel, agencies are at work which are but the medium of lying spirits." — ST May 9, 1906; or 4ST 420.

ccc“On the lips . . . most precious truth was turned into a lie [i.e., into a falsehood; into some thing fraudulent; into a false witness, or into the product of false shepherds]. The policy. . . was based on a principle borrowed from heathenism.” — DA 540, written in 1898.

ccc“All should become familiar with God’s Word; because Satan perverts and misquotes Scripture, and men follow his example by presenting part of God’s Word to those whom they wish to lead in false paths, withholding that part which would spoil their plans. All have the privilege of becoming acquainted with a plain 'Thus saith the Lord.' . . .
cccThere are false shepherds who will say and do perverse things. Children should be so instructed that they will be familiar with God’s Word, and be able to know when part of a Scripture is read and part left unread in order to make a false impression.” — Ev 591, "Dealing With False Science, Cults, Isms and Secret Societies;" or MS 153, 1899.

ccc"Many are Laodiceans, living in a spiritual self-deception. . . their whole life being a lie [i.e., their whole life being false shepherds; and/or being in spiritualism; and/or being part of Satan's on-going, latter times, counterfeit revival of secretly disguised witchcraft and demon worship; and/or being a modernized form of ancient heathenism]." — 7BC 962:2:1; or Letter 66, 1894.

cccTherefore, please remember the term, "lukewarm" [4T 87], in reality means aiding Satan or "aiding the enemy" [4T 87], and Satan gives his heathen "power," or his heathen spirit, or his counterfeit latter rain to the great mass of "lukewarm" [4T 87], who are by God's definition "aiding" Satan in his heathen "deceptions," and who are by God's definition thus "aiding" Satan in his "very last deception" of seeking to "make of "none effect" the "Testimony of the Spirit of God." 1SM 48; 4T 87; and 6BC 1106:1:2. Remember, among many other titles of this prince of heathen darkness, Satan is also the father of lies, the god of this world, and the secretly disguised god of ancient and modern heathenism, or spiritualism, or secretly disguised witchcraft and demon worship. It is no small matter that the great mass of lukewarm Laodiceans, whose whole life is a lie, are aiding Satan in his heathen deceptions; and/or it is no small matter that the lukewarm church of the Laodiceans are aiding Satan in his heathen deceptions, which are cloaked by them and disguised in professing Christian sheep's clothing and in professing Seventh-day Adventist sheep's clothing. Thus,--when quotes are perverted and misused by the perishing, impenitent, openly sinning, great mass of heathen or spiritualistic, witchcraft and demon worshipping, Satan's heathen power or spirit having, Satan aiding or lukewarm Laodiceans, who are by God's definition false shepherds because their whole life is a lie, and/or when quotes are perverted and misused by the lukewarm church of the Laodiceans,--oftentimes, you will find the problem solved by finding the particular quote at issue, if indeed the alleged quote actually exists; and, then, by prayerfully reading and studying the inspired Words both before and after the Words at issue, God will show you what it is that Satan aiding or lukewarm, Laodicean, false shepherds have predictably sought to pervert or to misquote. Remember, Satan aiding or lukewarm, Laodicean, false shepherds predictably boast and openly profess to be Christians and Seventh-day Adventists; but, in reality, they are open heathen--as we shall soon literally see, even more clearly from the Word of God.

cccIndeed, Satan aiding or lukewarm, Laodicean, false shepherds frequently pervert and misquote the Word of God. In the case at issue, of the "enfeebled" and "defective" condition versus the "betrayal" and "treachery" condition [TM 15, 17], if you are familiar with the quote in TM 15-17 you will see that it says the following:

ccc“I testify to my brethren and sisters that the church of Christ [i.e., the true church of Christ and/or faithful souls, as defined in AA 11, who will be Judged to be such by Christ in His on-going Investigative Judgment and not by the self-inflated, self-exalted, god-like, Judgment-Throne-of-God-assuming, counterfeit Judgment of god-like, Satan aiding or lukewarm, Laodicean men or women], enfeebled and defective as it may be, is the only object on earth on which He bestows His supreme regard.” — TM 15.

cccNow, if you will but turn the page over, from TM 15, which was just quoted, to TM 16-17 you will see the part of inspiration that is conveniently being left unread in order to make a false impression. Continuing to read in the very same divinely inspired bulletin on TM 16-17, you will see that there is a condition which is vastly more serious than being merely "enfeebled" and "defective." TM 15. That is a condition described by the Lord as being a condition of "betrayal" and "treachery." TM 17. The answer comes in recognizing a condition of "betrayal" and "treachery" [TM 17], so that this condition cannot be made to appear insignificant by allowing Satan aiding or lukewarm Laodiceans to falsely and wrongfully label it as supposedly being the mere "enfeebled" and "defective" condition. TM 16. We are all "enfeebled" and "defective" [TM 15], but God gives the professed church criteria by which they are to beware lest "betrayal" and "treachery" [TM 17] be written against them, as follows from TM 16-17:

ccc“His authority should be kept distinct and plain before the world, and no laws are to be acknowledged that come in collision with the laws of Jehovah. If in defiance of God’s arrangements the world be allowed to influence our decisions or our actions, the purpose of God is defeated. However specious the pretext, if the church waver here, there is written against her in the books of Heaven a betrayal of the most sacred trusts, and treachery to the kingdom of Christ.” — TM 16-17.

cccYou notice that by the word, “if," used twice above in TM 16-17, that there are obviously two conditional statements herein described for God’s professed church. Also, in TM 16-17, there are divine commands, which are applicable to God's professed church, as well. By giving us these “if” statements and commands in TM 16-17, God is clearly showing us that He wishes us to prayerfully and spiritually discern the answers to certain questions concerning the church:

1. Is “His authority being kept distinct and plain before the world?" TM 16. If the answer is: no,--then there is a condition of “betrayal" and "treachery” present and not merely a condition of being “enfeebled" and "defective." TM 15, 17.

2. Are laws being “acknowledged that come in collision with the laws of Jehovah?" TM 16. If the answer is: yes,--then there is a condition of “betrayal" and "treachery” present and not merely a condition of being “enfeebled" and "defective." TM 15, 17.

3. Are “God’s arrangements” being treated with "defiance" or being treated with open and bold resistance? TM 16. If the answer is: yes,--then there is a condition of “betrayal" and "treachery” present and not merely a condition of being “enfeebled" and "defective." TM 15, 17.

4. Is “the world” being “allowed to influence our decisions?” TM 16-17. If the answer is: yes,--then there is a condition of “betrayal" and "treachery” present and not merely a condition of being “enfeebled" and "defective." TM 15, 17.

5. Is “the world” being “allowed to influence . . . our actions?” TM 16-17. If the answer is: yes,--then there is a condition of “betrayal" and "treachery” present and not merely a condition of being “enfeebled" and "defective." TM 15, 17.

6. Is an attempt being made to defeat the "purpose of God?" TM 17. If the answer is: yes,--then there is a condition of “betrayal" and "treachery” present and not merely a condition of being “enfeebled" and "defective." TM 15, 17.

7. “However specious the pretext," (TN 17) is “the church” (TM 17) wavering here, as to the principles set forth by the Lord in TM 16-17? If the answer is: yes,--then there is a condition of “betrayal" and "treachery” present and not merely a condition of being “enfeebled" and "defective," and it is a false witness or a lie to attempt to excuse or cloak over “betrayal" and "treachery” as merely being “enfeebled" and "defective." TM 15, 17.

cccA careful, prayerful study of this commonly misused and all too often routinely misused TM 15 quote on being "enfeebled" and "defective" yields the conclusion that Jesus does not intend for it to be perverted to conceal and to cloak over evil, wrongs, error, or open sin in Laodicean church. One of the problems hampering Godly revival and reformation in the openly heathen or spiritualistic, openly lying or false witnessing, witchcraft and demon worshipping, Satan's heathen power or seducing spirit having, Satan aiding or lukewarm, Laodicean, merely professed Seventh-day Adventist Church is that too frequently the very real and present condition of “betrayal" and "treachery” (TM 17) is predictably and wickedly being disguised and excused as supposedly being merely an “enfeebled" and "defective” condition. TM 15. The solution to this false witness is to be properly educated as to the inspired writings and to be able to know when only part of an inspired statement is being quoted and when part of an inspired statement is being left unquoted in order to make a false impression.

cccNow, the question is this: Directly contrary to the predictable false witness or lie of the Conference and supposedly non-Conference ranks of the church of the Laodiceans themselves, does God's Laodicean message of salvation teach separation from the impenitent and openly sinning church of the Laodiceans, and is the church of the Laodiceans in the enfeebled and defective condition, or is it in the betrayal and treachery condition? Let's take a look at the first, second, fourth, and ninth commandments of God, as they relate to the much neglected Laodicean message, and we shall see. All bracketed comments are supplied to the end of this study.

ccc“But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” — Matthew 15:9.

ccc“Thou shalt not bear false witness against [i.e., a lie, a fraud, something not genuine, or a falsehood against] thy neighbour.” — Exodus 20:16.

ccc“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” — James 2:10.

ccc"Many are Laodiceans, living in a spiritual self-deception. . . their whole life being a lie [i.e., and/or their whole life being a false witness or vain worship; and/or their whole life being a transgression of God's ninth commandment and thus a transgression of all of the rest of the commandments of God, according to James 2:10; and/or their whole life being spiritualism, or part of Satan's counterfeit revival of witchcraft and demon worship; and/or their whole life being a modernized form of ancient heathenism--all in professing Christian sheep's clothing and all in professing Seventh-day Adventist sheep's clothing, just as we have already seen from God's Word]." — 7BC 962:2:1; or Letter 66, 1894.

ccc“Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews [i.e., and/or which say they are the true people of God, and/or which say they are the true church of God], and are not, but do lie . . . .” — Revelation 3:9.

ccc"I testify to my brethren and sisters that the church of Christ [i.e., the true church of Christ and/or faithful souls, as defined in AA 11, who will be Judged to be such by Christ in His on-going Investigative Judgment and not by the self-inflated, self-exalted, false god-like, Judgment-Throne-of-God-assuming, counterfeit Judgment of any false god-like, vain worshipping, Satan aiding or lukewarm, Laodicean men or women], enfeebled and defective as it may be, is the only object on earth on which He bestows His supreme regard. . . .
cccSatan has a large confederacy, his church. Christ calls them the synagogue of Satan because the members are the children of sin. The members of Satan's church have been constantly working to cast off the divine law, and confuse the distinction between good and evil. Satan is working with great power [i.e., with great, bewitching, and heathen power] in and through the children of disobedience to exalt treason and apostasy as truth and loyalty. And at this time the power [i.e., the heathen power] of his satanic inspiration is moving the living agencies to carry out the great rebellion against God that commenced in Heaven.
cccAt this time the church is to put on her beautiful garments--'Christ our righteousness.' There are clear, decided distinctions to be restored and exemplified to the world in holding aloft the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. The beauty of holiness is to appear in its native luster in contrast with the deformity and darkness of the disloyal, those who have revolted from the law of God. Thus we acknowledge God and recognize His law, the foundation of His government in Heaven and throughout His earthly dominions. His authority should be kept distinct and plain before the world, and no laws are to be acknowledged that come in collision with the laws of Jehovah. If in defiance of God's arrangements the world [i.e., see below] be allowed to influence our decisions or our actions, the purpose of God is defeated. However specious the pretext, if the church waver here, there is written against her in the books of Heaven a betrayal of the most sacred trusts, and treachery to the Kingdom of Christ." — TM 15, 16-17; or 1893 General Conference Daily Bulletin, page 408; or GCDB February 27, 1893.

ccc"The message to the church of the Laodiceans applies especially to the people of God today [i.e., to the professed people of God today]. It is a message to professing Christians who have become so much like the world that no difference can be seen." — 7BC 959:2:1; or RH August 20, 1903.

ccc"Satan is continually seeking to overcome the people of God by breaking down the barriers which separate them from the world [i.e., remember the previous two quotes above; and see below]. Ancient Israel were enticed into sin when they ventured into forbidden association with the heathen. In a similar manner are modern Israel led astray. 'The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.' [2 Corinthians 4:4.]." — 4SP 327-328, written in 1884.

ccc"The message to the church of the Laodiceans applies especially to the people of God today [i.e., to the professed people of God today]. It is a message to professing Christians who have become so much like the world that no difference can be seen. . . ." — 7BC 959:2:1; or RH August 20, 1903.

ccc"What are you doing, brethren, in the great work of preparation? Those who are uniting with the world i.e., remember the previous four quotes above; and see below] are receiving the worldly mold and preparing for the mark of the beast." — 5T 216, written in 1882.

ccc"The message to the church of the Laodiceans applies especially to the people of God today [i.e., to the professed people of God today]. It is a message to professing Christians who have become so much like the world that no difference can be seen." — 7BC 959:2:1; or RH August 20, 1903.

ccc“None will enter the Holy City, the paradise of God, but as conquerors,--those who have separated themselves from the world [i.e., remember the previous six quotes above; and see below].” — RH August 25, 1885; or 1RH 542.

ccc"The message to the church of the Laodiceans applies especially to the people of God today [i.e., to the professed people of God today]. It is a message to professing Christians who have become so much like the world that no difference can be seen. . . .
cccMany are Laodiceans, living in a spiritual self-deception. They clothe themselves in the garments of their own righteousness, imagining themselves to be rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing, when they need daily to learn of Jesus, His meekness and lowliness, else they find themselves bankrupt, their whole life being a lie [i.e., and/or their whole life being a false witness; and/or their whole life being a transgression of God's ninth commandment and thus a transgression of all of the rest of the commandments of God, according to James 2:10; and/or their whole life being part of the lying synagogue of Satan; and/or their whole life being spiritualism, or part of Satan's counterfeit revival of witchcraft and demon worship; and/or their whole life being a modernized form of ancient heathenism--all in professing Christian sheep's clothing and in professing Seventh-day Adventist sheep's clothing, just as we have already seen from God's Word].
cccOnly those who receive the seal of the living God will have the passport through the gates of the Holy City. But there are many who take upon themselves responsibilities in connection with the work of God who are not wholehearted believers, and while they remain thus cannot receive the seal of the living God. They trust in their own righteousness, which the Lord accounts as foolishness.
cccThose who would have the seal of God in their foreheads must keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. This is what distinguishes them from the disloyal, who have accepted a man-made institution in the place of the true Sabbath. The observance of God's rest day is the mark of distinction between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not.
cccMany will not receive the seal of God because they do not keep His commandments or bear the fruits of righteousness.
cccThe great mass of professing Christians will meet with bitter disappointment in the day of God. They have not upon their foreheads the seal of the living God. Lukewarm [i.e., aiding Satan] and halfhearted, they dishonor God far more than the avowed unbeliever. They grope in darkness [i.e., thus, please see this 'heathen' 'darkness' and much more discussed in the next seven quotes below] . . . ." — 7BC 959:2:1, or RH August 20, 1903; 7BC 962:2:1, or Letter 66, 1894; 7BC 970:1:2, or Letter 164, 1909; 7BC 970:1:3, or MS 27, 1899; 7BC 970:1:6, or Letter 76, 1900; and 7BC 970:1:7, or Letter 121, 1903.

ccc"I testify to my brethren and sisters that the church of Christ [i.e., the true church of Christ and/or faithful souls, as defined in AA 11, who will be Judged to be such by Christ in His on-going Investigative Judgment and not by the self-inflated, self-exalted, god-like, Judgment-Throne-of-God-assuming, counterfeit Judgment of any god-like, Satan aiding or lukewarm, Laodicean men or women], enfeebled and defective as it may be, is the only object on earth on which He bestows His supreme regard. . . .
cccSatan has a large confederacy, his church. Christ calls them the synagogue of Satan because the members are the children of sin. The members of Satan's church have been constantly working to cast off the divine law, and confuse the distinction between good and evil. Satan is working with great power [i.e., with great, bewitching, and heathen power] in and through the children of disobedience to exalt treason and apostasy as truth and loyalty. And at this time the power [i.e., the heathen power] of his satanic inspiration is moving the living agencies to carry out the great rebellion against God that commenced in Heaven.
cccAt this time the church is to put on her beautiful garments--'Christ our righteousness.' There are clear, decided distinctions to be restored and exemplified to the world in holding aloft the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. The beauty of holiness is to appear in its native luster in contrast with the deformity and darkness of the disloyal, those who have revolted from the law of God. Thus we acknowledge God and recognize His law, the foundation of His government in Heaven and throughout His earthly dominions. His authority should be kept distinct and plain before the world, and no laws are to be acknowledged that come in collision with the laws of Jehovah. If in defiance of God's arrangements the world be allowed to influence our decisions or our actions, the purpose of God is defeated. However specious the pretext, if the church waver here, there is written against her in the books of Heaven a betrayal of the most sacred trusts, and treachery to the Kingdom of Christ." — TM 15, 16-17; or 1893 General Conference Daily Bulletin, page 408; or GCDB February 27, 1893.

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., do not 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 to adore. They make images which represent God . . . .” — ST August 12, 1889; or 2ST 311.

ccc“All the gods of the people are idols.” — 1 Chronicles 16:26.

ccc“. . . . the gods of the heathen . . . .” — PP 336, written in 1890.

ccc“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. . . .
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 false gods; and/or after their visible, dead, openly idolatrous and thus openly Sabbath polluting and thus openly false witnessing and thus much more, vain worshipping, witchcraft and demon worshipping, forbidden, so-called true images and pictures made to represent the invisible, living, and true God]. . . .
cccThus Ezekiel is unto you a sign [i.e., a true sign]: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord God. . . .
cccThe Word of the Lord came again unto me [i.e., came again unto Ezekiel], saying, Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Howl ye, Woe worth the day! 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; 20:16; 24:24; 30:1-3.

ccc“The light of God is ever shining amid the darkness of heathenism.” — DA 59, written in 1898.

ccc“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.” — 1 John 1:6.

ccc“. . . . the falsehood of idolatry [i.e., and/or the lie of heathenism or Laodiceanism].” — 1BC 1108:1:1; or MS 58, 1900.

ccc“Again the Lord seeks to guard His people against idolatry [i.e., against heathenism; and/or against Laodiceanism] . . . making to themselves images to represent God.” — ST May 6, 1880; or 1ST 154.

ccc“To make an image of God dishonors Him.” — 2SAT 184; or MR #360, 1901.

ccc“. . . . idolatry . . . is . . . demon worship.” — PP 685:5, written in 1890.

ccc“All idolatry is devil worship.” — Author Unknown; ST January 25, 1899.

ccc“Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the City. For without are . . . idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” — Revelation 22:14, 15.

ccc"On the lips . . . most precious truth was turned into a lie. The policy . . . was based on a principle borrowed from heathenism." — DA 540, written in 1898.

ccc“The . . . fraud . . . was . . . a . . . falsehood . . . .” — ST April 17, 1879; or 1ST 98.

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 [i..e, false witnessing, dishonest, untrue, and/or not genuine] 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 [i.e., and/or so then because thou art aiding Satan, the god of ancient and modern heathenism], 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. 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"The message to the church of the Laodiceans applies especially to the people of God today [i.e., to the professed people of God today]. It is a message to professing Christians who have become so much like the world that no difference can be seen. 'And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and True witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works [i.e., both thy hidden and openly heathen works], that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm [i.e., so then because thou art aiding Satan, who is visibly represented by the false gods, and/or by the idols, and/or by the visible, dead, openly idolatrous and thus openly Sabbath polluting and thus openly false witnessing or openly fraudulent or openly not genuine and thus much more, vain worshipping, demon worshiping, witchcraft and demon worshipping, forbidden, so-called true images and pictures made to represent the invisible, living, and true God], and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth. Because 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: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.' Revelation 3:14-18. . . .
cccMany are Laodiceans, living in a spiritual self-deception. They clothe themselves in the garments of their own righteousness, imagining themselves to be rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing, when they need daily to learn of Jesus, His meekness and lowliness, else they find themselves bankrupt, their whole life being a lie [i.e., and/or their whole life being a false witness or vain worship; and/or their whole life being a transgression of God's ninth commandment and thus a transgression of all of the rest of the commandments of God, according to James 2:10; and/or their whole life being part of the lying synagogue of Satan; and/or their whole life being the falsehood of open idolatry or disguised demon worship, and thus of open Sabbath polluting in open transgression of God's first, second, fourth, and ninth commandments, and thus in open transgression of much more; and/or their whole life being spiritualism, or part of Satan's counterfeit revival of witchcraft and demon worship; and/or their whole life being a modernized form of ancient heathenism--all in professing Christian sheep's clothing and in professing Seventh-day Adventist sheep's clothing, just as we have already seen from God's Word]. . . .
cccThere are those who, though professedly serving God, are witnessing against Him [i.e., and/or are bearing false witness against Him; and/or are bearing the synagogue of Satan and heathenism against Him; and/or are lying against Him; and/or are transgressing the ninth commandment against Him]. To them the message to the Laodicean church is given. Christ says to them, 'I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot.' When the avenging angel shall pass through the land, Christ cannot say of them, 'Touch them not. I have graven them upon the palms of My hands.' No; of these halfhearted ones He says, 'I will spew them out of My mouth. They are offensive to Me.' . . .
cccThe great mass of professing Christians will meet with bitter disappointment in the day of God. They have not upon their foreheads the seal of the living God. Lukewarm [i.e., aiding Satan] and halfhearted, they dishonor God far more than the avowed unbeliever. They grope in darkness [i.e., thus, please see this 'heathen' 'darkness' and much more discussed in the next MIKE quotes below] . . . ." — 7BC 959:2:1, or RH August 20, 1903; 7BC 962:2:1, or Letter 66, 1894; 7BC 963:2:5, or Letter 44, 1903.

ccc“God's work in the earth in these last days is to reflect the light that Christ brought into the world. This light is to dissipate the gross darkness of ages. Men and women in heathen darkness are to be reached by those who at one time were in a similar condition of ignorance, but who have received the knowledge of the of God's Word.” — SpTB11:27:3, written in 1907.

ccc"But there is no union between the Prince of light and the prince of darkness, and there can be no union between their followers." — GC 44-45, written in 1888.

ccc"In all ages of the world the truth and its adherents have been unpopular; and how can we expect it to be different now, so near the close of time? It is impossible for a man to become loyal to God, rendering obedience to all His commandments, without finding himself immediately marked as odd from the rest of the world, and cut off from the society of those who transgress that law. If all would be obedient to the law of God, he would not be obliged to give up his former associates; but where one alone, or a very few at most, take a position on the side of right, a separation becomes necessary. There is a difference between the children of light and the children of darkness. Their tastes and habits are widely dissimilar. Though they may be thrown together, there is no congeniality between them; for one has a love for Heavenly things, and the other for those that are earthly. 'What concord hath Christ with Belial?' What harmony is there between light and darkness?" — RH January 13, 1885; or 1RH 497.

ccc“The children of the world are called the children of darkness. They are blinded by the god of this world, and are led by the spirit of the prince of darkness. They cannot enjoy Heavenly things. The children of light have their affections set on things above. They leave behind them the things of this world [i.e., to include: leaving behind the children of the world, and/or leaving behind the impenitent and openly sinning church of the Laodiceans, who have become so much like the world that no difference can be seen, and/or leaving behind the children of darkness; and/or leaving behind the perishing, impenitent, openly sinning, great mass of openly heathen, worse than dead, openly idolatrous and thus openly Sabbath polluting and thus openly false witnessing or openly fraudulent or openly not genuine and thus much more, vain worshipping, demon worshipping, witchcraft and demon worshipping, worldly or mark of the beast receiving, disloyal to God, Satan aiding or lukewarm Laodiceans, who grope in darkness even in the day of God, and whose whole life is a lie, or whose whole life is the life of false teachers and false shepherds, as seen in the previous quotes above]. They fulfill the command: ‘Come out from among them, and be ye separate.’ [2 Corinthians 6:17.] Here is the conditional promise: ‘I will receive you.’” — 1T 279, written in 1862.

ccc"Satan will excite the indignation of apostate Christendom against the humble remnant who conscientiously refuse to accept false customs and traditions. Blinded by the prince of darkness, popular religionists will see only as he sees, and feel as he feels. They will determine as he determines, and oppress as he has oppressed. Liberty of conscience, which has cost so great a sacrifice, will no longer be respected. The church and the world will unite, and the world will lend to the church power [i.e., heathen or worldly power] to crush out the right of the people to worship God according to His Word. . . .
cccHistory repeats itself. . . .
cccThe decree is to go forth that all who will not receive the mark of the beast shall neither buy nor sell, and, finally, that they shall be put to death. But the saints of God do not receive this mark. The prophet of Patmos beheld those that had gotten the victory over the beast and over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God, and singing the song of Moses and the Lamb.
cccTo every soul will come the searching test, Shall I obey God rather than men? The decisive hour is even now at hand. Satan is putting forth his utmost efforts in the rage of a last despairing struggle against Christ and His followers. False teachers are employing every device possible to stimulate the hardened sinner in his rebellious daring, to confirm the questioning, the doubting, the unbelieving, and, by misrepresentation and falsehood, to deceive, if it were possible, the very elect. Who are prepared to stand firmly under the banner on which is inscribed, 'The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus'?
cccChrist never purchased peace and friendship by compromise with evil. Tho His heart overflowed with love toward the human race, He could not be indulgent to their sins. Because He loved men and women, He was a stern reprover of their vices. His life of suffering, the humiliation to which He was subjected by a perverse nation, show His followers that there must be no sacrifice of principle. God's tried people must maintain watchfulness, with fervent prayer, lest, in their eagerness to prevent discord, they surrender truth, and thus dishonor the God of truth. Peace is too dearly obtained if purchased by the smallest concession to Satan's agencies. The least surrender of principle entangles us in the snare of the enemy.
cccPaul writes to the Romans, 'If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.' But there is a point beyond which it is impossible to maintain union and harmony without the sacrifice of principle. Separation then becomes an absolute duty." — ST November 8, 1899; or 4ST 73, 74.

ccc“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. . . .
cccWhosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” — 1 John 1:6; 3:4.

ccc“'In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.” Ephesians 1:13 What is the seal of the living God, which is placed in the foreheads of His people [i.e., in the foreheads of His true people, who will be Judged to be such by Christ in His on-going Investigative Judgment and not in the self-exalted, false god-like, Judgment-Throne-of-God-assuming, counterfeit Judgment of openly heathen, Satan aiding or lukewarm, Laodicean men and women]? It is a mark which angels, but not human eyes, can read; for the destroying angel must see this mark of redemption.
cccThe angel with the writer's ink horn is to place a mark upon the foreheads of all who are separated from sin and sinners [i.e., upon the foreheads of all who are separated from sin and perishing, impenitent, and open sinners], and the destroying angel follows this angel." — 4BC 1161:2:2-3; or Letter 126, 1898, and Letter 12, 1886.

cccTherefore, directly contrary to the predictable false witness or lie of Conference and supposedly non-Conference Laodiceans whose whole life is a lie, God's Laodicean message of salvation does teach separation and even commands separation from the impenitent and openly sinning church of the Laodiceans.

cccTherefore, the openly heathen, worse than dead, openly idolatrous or openly making forbidden images and pictures of God and thus openly Sabbath polluting and thus openly false witnessing or openly lying or openly part of the lying synagogue of Satan or openly fraudulent or openly not genuine and thus much more, vain worshipping, demon worshipping, witchcraft and demon worshipping, worldly or mark of the beast receiving, disloyal to God, Satan's heathen power or spirit having, Satan aiding or lukewarm church of the Laodiceans is not simply "enfeebled" and "defective," as they falsely claim in order to cloak over their official and open sin, but the church of the Laodiceans is in open "betrayal of the most sacred trusts," and in open "treachery to the Kingdom of Christ." Remember TM 15, 16-17; or 1893 General Conference Daily Bulletin, page 408; or GCDB February 27, 1893.

cccTherefore, there is indeed a difference between: (1.) being "enfeebled" and "defective;" and (2.) being in open "betrayal" and "treachery." TM 15, 16-17.


Your brother in Christ,

Pastor Michael O. Hodges
Forerunner, self-supporting ministries
Home church (since 1983)

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Copyright 2003.

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