our firm foundation

2 Our Firm Foundation

editorial

“Study to shew thyself approvedunto God, a workman thatneedeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.”2 Timothy 2:15.

God has spoken in the Scripturesand in the Spirit of Prophecy in theplainest language upon everysubject which is necessary for oursalvation. Only the careful studentsof the Scripture and the Spirit ofProphecy will be able to understandand experience the truth.

In every generation, Satan hasproduced idle speculation aboutthings of which nothing is said inthe Word of God. In the days of theapostles, the most foolish heresieswere presented as truth, and historyhas been, and will continue to berepeated until the great controversybetween good and evil is ended.

Today, we see that Satan hascome down to the faithful andobedient remnant people with greatwrath, for he knows that he has avery short time. Every wind ofdoctrine is now blowing in Advent-ism. Fanaticism is again spreadingall around the world. Those who are

spiritually weak, who are not wellgrounded in truth, accept error inthe place of truth because error isclothed in a new garment, whichthey believe is a wonderful truthnewly discovered. If this garment oferror is put to the test, the coveringis stripped away and the nakednessof error is revealed. Those whoallow their minds to wander intoand dwell upon non-salvationalissues are often caught up intofanatical movements which erode,and finally destroy, their spiritualperception. Many then ride theirhobbyhorse until criticism engulfsthem, and they go out into spiritualdarkness.

None need be deceived if theywill be students of the Word andthe Spirit of Prophecy. Let usremember that the track of truth liesclose to the track of error, and onlythe Holy Spirit can teach us thedifference:

“The track of truth lies closebeside the track of error, and bothtracks may seem to be one to mindswhich are not worked by the HolySpirit, and which, therefore, are not

quick to discern the differencebetween truth and error.” SelectedMessages, book 1, 202.

“The godly need not be deceivedif they are students of the Scripturesand obedient to follow the plainpath marked out for them in theWord of God.” Review and Herald,April 15, 1875.

God commands His remnantpeople to search the Scriptures:

“Search the scriptures; for inthem ye think ye have eternal life:and they are they which testify ofme.” John 5:39.

“All who join the ranks ofSabbathkeepers should becomediligent Bible students, that theymay know the pillars and ground-work of the truth. They should studyprophetic history, which hasbrought us down point by point towhere we are at the present time.”Manuscript Releases, vol. 10, 171.

Let us all be Bereans in this finalhour: “Prove all things; hold fastthat which is good.”1 Thessalonians 5:21. !

Ron Spear, Executive Editor

An Apology and CorrectionWe would like to apologize for confusion caused by one of the illustrations on page 15 of the February 2002,

issue of Our Firm Foundation. On that page was a Bible study entitled, “Baptism for the Dead.” Below this studywere two illustrations of baptism, one of which was an illustration depicting a female minister baptizing a child.While the study does deal with an unbiblical concept of baptism, it has no connection whatsoever to the issue offemale pastors. The illustration in question was not given adequate consideration, and we realize in retrospect thatit should not have been included. (It was drawn for an issue of Our Firm Foundation published years ago regardingthe issue of ordaining women pastors.)

We assure our readers that our positions on both baptism and female pastors are consistent with Bible-basedhistoric Adventism and have not changed. Hope International does not support the ordination of women pastors orelders, nor the baptism of young children who do not have an adequate comprehension of the step they are taking.The illustration in question is not consistent with our position on these matters, and its use would only be appropri-ate in connection with an article dealing with these specific issues.

We thank you for your understanding and continued support as we strive to uphold the true standards of Bibledoctrine, and also to maintain the quality and reliability of our publications. If you have any questions, please feelfree to contact us.

Sincerely,Hope International Design and Editorial Departments

Winds of Doctrine

3Volume 17, Number 4

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table of contentsVolume 17, Number 4 April 2002

28 The Sound of MusicClark A. FloydCould my choice of music affect my salvation?

20 Danger of Light Becoming DarknessEllen G. WhiteThe King of the universe is waiting to bestow heav-enly treasures upon you. How will you use them?

8 Eradicating Terrorists?Bob JorgensenHow can we win the war on terrorism? Would yourecognize a potential terrorist if you met him?

16 The Sanctuary TruthJohn KorponayWhat a privilege to experience this unique truth andshare it with others!

4 The Danger of SilenceHal MayerWhy do good people remain mute and not protest inthe face of compromise?

It is the mission of Hope Internationaland the editors of Our Firm Foundation toclearly present Christ and His truth. Thedays that yet remain of this world arefew, and what we do we must do quickly.We must boldly proclaim the historictruths of Adventism that place us on sofirm a foundation in the midst of thistroubled world. –Editors

Executive Editor: Ron SpearAdministrative Editor: Bill HumeniukManaging Editor: Harvey SteckLayout & Design: Kevin Patterson

Subscription InformationPrices for the annual subscription are listedbelow. Although we strive to keep themas low as possible, if your finances cannotmeet the requested amount, please sendwhatever you can. We want this materialto be available to all. If you wish to give adonation to assist in providing subscrip-tions for those whose funds may be lim-ited, send your gift marked “SubscriptionAssistance” to the address below. Your do-nation is tax deductible.

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Copyright © 2002 Hope International

Artwork and photos in this publication are theproperty of their respective owners, and are used with

permission. Other items are © Hope International.Cover photo: © EyeWire

News Watch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Defending the Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

The Garden of the Heart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

departments

24 The Testing of CharacterEllen G. WhiteKing Saul—an example of how God proves our trustin Him


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Have you ever wondered whythere remains a deafeningsilence among the faithful

in many of our churches whenchurch leaders urge that we supportan unbiblical doctrine or practice?Why do good people remain muteand fail to protest when compromisearises? As I have watched ourchurch steadily lose her doctrinalbearings over the years, and theresultant onrushing torrent ofiniquity, all self-justified byunsanctified leaders, I have won-dered, Why are there so few mem-bers who are willing to raise theirvoices in alarm and protest? In thelight of Biblical history, it makes nospiritual sense for those who lovetruth to keep their voices muted aserror marches forward among God’speople. What makes us so prone tosilence—so prone to “playingPossum”?

H a l M a y e r

Ellen G. White wrote, “Mymessage to you is: No longerconsent to listen without protest tothe perversion of truth. Unmask thepretentious sophistries which, ifreceived, will lead ministers andphysicians and medical missionaryworkers to ignore the truth. Every-one is now to stand on his guard.God calls upon men and women totake their stand under the blood-stained banner of PrinceEmmanuel.” Selected Messages, book1, 196.

Why do we not heed the counselof God’s prophet? If only all thegood people around us were vigilantand standing on their guard, itwould be difficult for the devil topush his agenda through men whodo not believe the truth, but serve inholy office.

I believe there are a number ofreasons why good men and women

remain silent in the face of persistentattempts by Satan to undermine thetruth among Seventh-day Advent-ists. One of the key reasons is fear,which has many facets. Here are justa few of them:

Fear’s Facets

1. Opposing the Lord’sAnointed—Many good people areafraid to disagree with churchleaders. They think that in doing so,they would be offending God, andso they do not want to “touch theLord’s anointed.” But this is amisapplication of David’s words.David was being urged to do Saulphysical harm. Those urging it werejustifying breaking the command-ments of God on the basis thatDavid would be defending truth andhis own divine appointment asIsrael’s future king. The basicargument was that David would bejustified in killing Saul because ofthe good that would result. Davidrightly refused, but protested to Saulin the morning against Saul’spersecution of David and his men.

Opposing church leaders’opinions or actions is not wrongwhen they are directly in conflictwith the inspired counsel. In fact,faithful members must oppose themif they are to remain faithful watch-men on the walls of Zion, and avoidthe condemnation from the Lordaddressed to the unfaithful watch-men.

2. Reputation—Many goodpeople do not protest against errorbecause they are concerned abouttheir reputations. They know that


church leaders, whether pastors orlocal elders, have a way of twistinggenuine concerns and respondingwith (frequently false) accusations ofbeing critical, unsupportive, and ofcausing schisms. Often pastors will(wittingly or unwittingly) use othergood people to make those accusa-tions. Counteracting those accusa-tions is not easy. We remind thosewho make these accusations that itis a matter of truth or principle—nota matter of attitude. Yet even thisdoes not always turn the accusa-tions away.

Do not forget that these veryaccusers are the ones doing thecriticizing of God’s faithful messen-gers, whether they be lay members,faithful pastors or self-supportingworkers. Jesus “made himself of noreputation” (Philippians 2:7), and,in fact, suffered more than we willever suffer. What is more important,our reputation with pastors andother church members, or ourreputation with God?

3. Peer Pressure—Many goodpeople fear peer pressure fromfellow church members. Often it ismuch easier to go with the flow ofcollective opinion than to step outfrom the crowd and be different. Wedo not normally want to be different.Yet being different is what theAdventist faith is all about. We arecalled to be a peculiar people. SeeTitus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9. The naturaltendency is to conform in an ever-widening circle of pressures. Thereis pressure from our close friendsand family, then from our localchurch, then from the world church,then from the ecumenical movement,and so on. Peer pressure will alwaysbe applied to those who want tostand for truth.

4. Fear of Being Marginalized—Many good pastors and memberswho believe the truth, have a fear ofbeing marginalized by the Confer-ence or by their pastor (in the case ofmembers). Pastors may think that ifthey protest against something thatthey believe is wrong in the Confer-ence, their Conference president willthink that they are not supportive ofhim, and will send them to somesmall district out in the middle of

nowhere, or hold up his ordination,or maybe worse—dismiss him fromConference employment. Membersmay fear that protest will lead tolosing their position or office in thelocal church—or even to churchdiscipline.

While it is possible that thesethings could, and often do happen,is that a reason to remain silent?Most of the protestors of the pastwere alone and/or were disciplined.Take Jeremiah or Isaiah, for example.Both were disciplined in their dayfor their plain speaking. Elijah hadto hide in the wilderness to avoidchurch and civil discipline. Hecould have complained that he wasbeing marginalized for three yearsduring the famine; yet later hebecame the center of influence on

Mount Carmel. Far from beingmarginalized, God elevated him tothe most important and powerfulforce in the nation at that time,much to Jezebel’s distress. God maynot do this in every case, but,nonetheless, we should be faithfuland leave the consequences andresults with God.

5. Fear of Being Discredited—Many good people are afraid ofbeing discredited. Some are not aspolished as others in their speechand are not as able to make quickresponses to questions or accusa-tions. This gives them the fear ofapproaching subjects related to truthand error because they feel they willbe challenged, and then they willnot have good answers to thequestions that are raised.

Remember, truth lovers canalways say that they do not have animmediate answer, but that they willget back with an answer to theperson with the challenging ques-tion. Then go to the Bible and to the

Spirit of Prophecy and find theanswer, and seek counsel fromtruth-loving friends. While beingrespectful and Christlike, do not besilenced by liberal pastors who havebeen “highly educated.” They arenot likely to know the truth becausethey have, most likely, been taughterror. Stick with the inspired reason-ing—not human reasoning.

Beyond Fear

There are reasons beyond fearwhy good people remain silent:

1. Creeping Compromise—Erroroften creeps up subtly, and it is notusually recognized until it is well onits way to being deeply rooted.Everything is going along smoothly.There is good (so-called) “unity” inyour church. Then suddenly some-

one recognizes that there is adeparture from the truth, and heraises his voice in concern. Contro-versy erupts, and all the usual bellsand whistles go off (i.e, shouts of“criticism,” “disunity,” “schism,”and so forth), and pious accusationsare made against the one who raisedthe concern (“you need to work forunity,” “please don’t be so critical ofothers”).

Some people are too quick tojump to conclusions, and they beginto accuse the one who has raised theconcern of being a legalist, or afanatic, or too narrow-minded, orliving in the 19th century, and soforth, rather than checking into theWord of God for themselves to findout if the concern raised has anyspiritual basis. Under these condi-tions, good people are often hesitantto oppose error because they oftenthink that their protest will onlymake matters worse.

Of course, there may be timeswhen things will get worse, but

Often it is much easier to go with the flow of collective

opinion than to step out from the crowd and be

different. We do not normally want to be different. Yet

being different is what the Adventist faith is all about.


when souls are at stake, we need tobe reminded of the statement madeby Ellen White: “If unity could besecured only by the compromise oftruth and righteousness, then letthere be difference, and even war.

“Well would it be for the churchand the world if the principles thatactuated those steadfast souls [earlychurch believers] were revived in thehearts of God’s professed people.There is an alarming indifference inregard to the doctrines which are thepillars of the Christian faith.” TheGreat Controversy, 45–46.

2. Neglect of Study—Here is aneven more serious one. Good peoplefrequently remain silent becausethey feel that they have not studiedthe issue from the Bible and the

Spirit of Prophecy, and, therefore, arenot qualified to address the matter.Moreover, many are not havingregular devotions and personalstudy time in which to pursueresearch on a given topic. Further,they may not know how to do so.How tragic!

Even good, long-standingSeventh-day Adventists have lost theBible study ethic. We may read itdevotionally, but we do not dig fortruth, and research the Bible and theSpirit of Prophecy for light concern-ing the issues confronting God’schurch today.

Some good people are not evensure what the truth is, so it is hardfor them to express their concernswhen they are not really sure whatthe Bible teaches. This is a danger-ous state of affairs. Faithful peoplemust be faithful students. “School”is not over upon graduation fromhigh school or college. It is onlybeginning, for life is a school indeed.When we become Christ’s, then weenter the school of Christ and mustdiscipline ourselves to do the

necessary research so that we knowwhat we believe and why.

3. Theological “Inferiority”—Often good people are made to feelinferior to the “theologians”—even ifthey have thoroughly studied theissues of truth and error in question.Tragically, with the push for theaccreditation of our colleges manyyears ago, and the current fanati-cism to make them all universities,we have put ourselves on a tread-mill that is a galling yoke, and verydestructive of the truth.

Accreditation requires that manyprofessors have advanced degrees,which in turn are earned at seminar-ies and universities not at all inharmony with our faith, thuscausing much error to come into the

ministry and into our institutions oflearning. This also translates intopractical apostasy in other institu-tions and churches as the rippleeffect widens over time. We havedeveloped an intellectual snobberythat has made many feel inferior tothe “theologians” who have “stud-ied,” and thus who supposedlyknow better than the rest of us whatis truth.

Bible students should not feartheologians, for they most likelyknow more of the truth than themost decorated and scholarlyprofessor, unless the professor hashumbled himself and come to theScriptures himself as did Luther,Calvin, Huss, or other reformers,whom he so often reveres. Even ifthe pastor has his master’s ordoctor’s degree, it does not meanthat he has the truth.

In fact, it has been the “theolo-gians” who have brought in thegreatest amount of error amongGod’s people in the past. It wasactually theologians who hadrejected the Bible as the truth of God

and as authoritative in the church,who founded the ecumenicalRomeward-bound movement.

More than anything, we needBible students who can, by the graceof God, confound the theologians asJesus did in His day when they saidof Him, “How knoweth this manletters, having never learned?” John7:15. He had not been to theirseminaries to study theology; Hehad studied the Word only.

4. A Silent Witness—Many goodpeople remain silent because theyfalsely think that they can influencethose in error quietly—by their godlyexample. This is dangerous, becausethose in error often do not know thatthey are in error unless there is someattention drawn to it. However, ifthey have a strong passion about theerror they believe, they may have anagenda (as is often the case withpastors and other church leaders),and will continue to push theiragenda—in spite of the godlyexample. In fact, they will often usethose godly examples in the serviceof promoting their error—all unwit-tingly—to the person who is tryingto influence them by his godlyexample. Even those who may nothave an “agenda” are, nevertheless,passively promoting error (evenunintentionally) and need theopportunity to have it pointed out totheir unenlightened minds. Errormust be exposed.

5. “At least they are coming tochurch”—Many good people hearexcuses that they do not know howto answer, so they remain silent. Forexample: “Oh, drama (rock music,sports, or whatever) is not so bad.We need this to keep the youth (ornew converts, or whoever) in thechurch (or school).” Tragically, thisexcuse is far too often used to foisterror upon the church—and withbaleful results. Why in heaven or onearth would something that God hasforbidden, actually serve a goodpurpose? In reality, these things leadall who engage in them furtheraway from God.

Take the celebration churches, forexample. At the start they were largeand full on Sabbath morning.However, after a while, what

When we become Christ’s, then we enter the school of

Christ and must discipline ourselves to do the necessary

research so that we know what we believe and why.


happened to them?—They haveoften dwindled in attendance, andsome have even disbanded. Faithfulpeople should not let excuses standin the way of exposing error forwhat it is. Point them to the state-ments in the Word of God or theSpirit of Prophecy, and if they willhear, then you have gained thehigher ground. If they will not hear,then you have delivered your soulfrom the condemnation reserved forsilent watchmen. See Ezekiel 33:7–8.

6. Criticism of the truth—Manygood people hear criticisms of thetruth that they do not know how toanswer: “The old (teaching orpractice) is boring,” or, more subtly,“It doesn’t meet our needs, or theneeds of the people.” These patheticrationalizations of error often revealsomething more devastating: thosewho profess the truth are not reallyliving it, and thus are misrepresent-ing it.

Of course, the entertainmentsyndrome, and other factors, havealso had their influence. All thesethings combined have played a role.But criticisms of the truth are notsufficient reason to bring in error orcompromise. Let us live the truthand proclaim the truth with power.That is what will make sense topeople who are truly searching forlight and for the understanding ofGod’s will, whether they be Seventh-day Adventists or not.

7. The Pain of Conflict—Anotherreason is that conflict is painful, andmany people are hesitant to bearound the tension that naturallyassociates with it. While it is truethat some may be called to openconfrontation (in a Heaven-approved way), others may be calledto approach the matters in questionone-on-one with those in error.

Whatever method God has calledyou to, you must faithfully fulfillthat responsibility to work withthose in error with compassion andkindness. Yes, there may be tensionfrom time to time, but God will giveyou strength for those times, and asweet Christian spirit will go fartoward reducing painful tension.

8. Hypocrisy—One final tragedyis that many good people who

remain silent are still in sin and donot recognize the error when itarises. Thus they cannot raise theirvoices in protest. Furthermore, if theycould, they would face the guilt offeeling like a hypocrite.

Brethren and sisters, we need, bythe grace of God, to come up higheron the path of moral worth. Howcan we effectively oppose error andapostasy in our church when we

ourselves are living in knownconflict with God’s revealed will?We must get on our knees and pleadwith God for victory, and then takethe necessary steps to resolve ourown departures from God’s counsel.

The Danger

You may be able to think of otherreasons why good people remainsilent when error or compromisearises in God’s church. The dangerof silence is that the leaders in errorand compromise—whether they arein the ministry or whether they arelaymen—just go right on withoutany spiritual accountability to thepeople. The problem does not goaway; it just gets larger—destroyingthe message and mission of ourSeventh-day Adventist Church. Godrequires spiritual accountability. Yetall too often the faithful souls inGod’s church hesitate to holdthemselves and their leaders up totheir God-given responsibilities andmake them accountable to the Wordof God.

Today our church is in deeptrouble with the Lord. We are notfollowing His counsel in education,health care, publishing, or inministry. Soon the judgments of Godare going to fall upon the world andupon all those who profess to be Hispeople, but who have not beenfaithful to the truth, including thosewho knew the truth but who have

refused to give the warning.“So thou, O son of man, I have

set thee a watchman unto the houseof Israel; therefore thou shalt hearthe word at my mouth, and warnthem from me. When I say unto thewicked, O wicked man, thou shaltsurely die; if thou dost not speak towarn the wicked from his way, thatwicked man shall die in his iniquity;but his blood will I require at thine

hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn thewicked of his way to turn from it; ifhe do not turn from his way, heshall die in his iniquity; but thouhast delivered thy soul.” Ezekiel33:7–9.

May God make us faithfulwatchmen. !

How can we effectively oppose error and apostasy in

our church when we ourselves are living in known

conflict with God’s revealed will?

Must We Be Silent?Koranteng-Pipim, Samuel

Designed to defend soundbiblical teaching by counteringthe false teachings so prevalentin the church today. “Indiffer-ence and neutrality in a religiouscrisis is regarded of God as agrievous crime and equal to thevery worst type of hostilityagainst God.” Testimonies, vol. 3,281.

Paperback, 640 pages, 2001

Price: $19.95Catalog # BEKS-MWBS


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uesday, September 11, 2001,is a day that will certainly beremembered by this generation.

The events of that fateful day havecaused many people to wonderwhat goes on in the mind of aterrorist. The government of theUnited States has declared war onterrorism and terrorists. However, itmight be easier to fight a war onterrorism, than on terrorists.

To identify terrorism we need onlyto identify actions and results.Dictionaries define terrorism as theuse of acts of terror or violence tocoerce or intimidate people, often forideological or political reasons. Weoften use the term in a broader senseto refer to acts of violence or crime thathave no logical rationale behind them.Some people engage in terroristic actssimply because they enjoy doingsomething violent. It is appropriate toput forth efforts to apprehend, andbring to justice, those who are respon-sible for acts of terrorism. However, itis much more difficult to identify aperson who might be a terrorist, but

who has not yet committed an act ofterrorism. It is even more difficult toascertain how a person might think,and whether he would indeed becomea terrorist who would commit acts ofterrorism in the future, such as wesaw on September 11.

In our haste to stamp out terror-ists, we should not forget that big-scale terrorists often grow fromsmall-scale terrorists. Acts of terror-ism are daily occurring in a widevariety of ways that we oftenoverlook, and have perhaps ceasedto see as being actual acts of terror-ism. Throwing a brick through awindow is an act of terrorism.Phone threats are acts of terrorism.Injuries purposely done to people, ordamage deliberately done to prop-erty—these are all acts of terrorism.Of course, the events of September11 were glaringly outstanding actsof terrorism. Yes, we are anxious toprevent such heinous acts of terror-ism from happening again, but thereare several points that, in our haste,we may easily overlook:

1. Danger of Overreacting

While many of us in Americamay have great concern in ourhearts for the possible acts ofterrorism that could take place, thereis also deep concern in the hearts ofmany of us that in a time of greattrauma and emotional reaction wecould be in danger of overreacting.

To declare that we are going towage war on terrorists until we havestamped them out, is to run a greatrisk of embarking upon a modern-day “witch hunt,” which wouldinevitably result in the destruction ofinnocent lives. In our pain we caneasily develop a hasty attitude of“shoot first and ask questions later.”To carry out the stated intention ofeliminating terrorists requiresassessing the motives and possibili-ties of individuals’ characters andlives. This process could be end-less—and eventually ruthless.

We are in exceedingly gravedanger of criminalizing race,religion, or ethnic background as the

Eradicating Terrorists?B o b J o r g e n s e n

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breeding place of terrorists, andthen persecuting or purging thosewith such an identified background.Terrorists come from all walks oflife, all denominations, all races. Thegreat danger is that some group ofpeople with sufficient power willidentify minority groups, or seg-ments of society with less power orinfluence, as being a threat tosociety, because some members orrenegades from that group mayhave conducted or committedterroristic activities.

Because some militant Islamicshave committed acts of terrorism, wemight be in danger of concludingthat all Islamics are dangerous andcould be potential terrorists.

From Tuesday, September 11,2001, through Thursday, September13, firebombs damaged Islamicmosques, and Hindu and Sikhtemples in the U.S. A man attemptedto run down a Pakistani womanwith his car, claiming to be “doingthis for my country.” Another manawaits trial on the charge of mur-dering Balbir Singh Sodhi, a 49-year-old gas station owner andfather of three, who was shot todeath while doing some landscap-ing work outside of his business. 1

But these incidents were not theonly indication of unreasonablereactions spurred by heated emo-tions. The danger of overreactingwas illustrated by the poll con-ducted recently by Sierra CollegeResearch Institute. The researchersfound that a third of New Yorkersfavored internment camps for Arabs. 2

Yet, it must not be forgotten thatsome of the greatest terrorists of alltime have arisen from within theCatholic religion (for example, readthe history of the St. Bartholomewmassacre when the presiding pontiffstruck a special medal to commemo-rate the cruel murder of thousandsof Protestants). Should we thenconclude that all Catholics arepotential terrorists to be confinedand strictly guarded or elimi-nated?—Certainly not! No doubtsome people with backgrounds suchas Methodists, Baptists, Mormons,Presbyterians, or Seventh-dayAdventists have also committed acts

of terrorism. Does this then makeany of those religions the spawningground of antisocial terrorism?

If we allow ourselves to overre-act, if we are willing to sell out toomany of our freedoms in the effortto reach the elusive goal of “secu-rity,” we could eventually becomethe most despotic and oppressivenation of all time. Every principleof freedom provided by our Consti-tution could eventually be tradedfor “security,” and yet in realityour “security” would be an illusionbecause we would not know whenwe might be the next subjects ofsurveillance as potential terroristsbecause of our religion, race, orbackground. The effort to eradicateterrorists with this approach couldbe a serious mistake.

2. A Task Beyond Comprehen-sion

Preventing terrorism by figuringout how terrorists think, and thencatching and confining or eliminat-ing all potential terrorists, is a vastlymore monumental task than any ofus can possibly comprehend.Identifying a potential terrorist mightbe more difficult than we think.

Can we identify with certaintythose who have seeds of terrorismlying in their hearts? For example, ifa government were to really accom-plish this goal, it would be necessaryto perceive the development ofchildren and identify those withpotentially “errant” habits of think-ing, and then guard against, oreliminate, such individuals. Other-wise, they could eventually becometerrorists, who could wreak devasta-tion.

Terrorists could most likelydevelop from certain types of people,certain races, or from those involved

in certain religions or ideologies.People exhibiting some of theprescribed suspicious characteristicswould need to be carefully moni-tored and watched, or possiblyeliminated, for the sense of thesecurity of the majority. This couldconceivably become a secondInquisition, in which everyone isurged to be an informer on hisbrother and neighbor. Then no onewould know who might mysteri-ously disappear next.

This approach fails to recognizethat terroristic seeds of thought maylie dormant in the hearts of even thebest of us. Thoughts of jealousy,envy, anger, hatred, revenge, mal-ice—these are all seeds of terroristicthoughts and motives. Our mentaland emotional programming

develops from the early moments oflife, even during our prenatal period,and is affected by family relation-ships, education, religion, diet,entertainment, exposure to news,and many other factors. All of thesecan have their degree of influence inthe making of a terrorist.

Some terrorists are not recog-nized as such because they carry ontheir activities in a more politicallyacceptable way. Others are morevisible because their acts of terrorismare so very obvious or bizarre. Whenan obscure and little-known indi-vidual hijacks an airplane it is anact of terrorism. We have no problemrecognizing it. Yet, if a public agencyhijacks a home and takes away thechildren because their education ismore conservative or religious thanthe local public school offers, or,their lifestyle is not considered“normal” by the soda pop, ham-burger, and TV generation, thataction is not perceived to be terror-ism. Such terroristic activities may

Preventing terrorism by figuring out how terrorists think,

and then catching and confining or eliminating all

potential terrorists, is a vastly more monumental task

than any of us can possibly comprehend.


even be publicized as “rescuing” the“victims” from “abusive parents.”

We could even note that quite anumber of well-known individualsdown through history have engagedin terrorism. In fact, some have ledwhole nations into terroristicactivities. We are all, doubtless,familiar with the terroristic activitiesof Alexander the Great, Adolf Hitler,and many others. Even in our ownUnited States, citizens have some-times had terroristic experiences atthe hands of agencies apparentlyendeavoring to prevent the practiceof health treatment by practitionerswhom they have decided to label as“unorthodox.” Remember, there donot have to be violent deaths inorder for actions to constituteterroristic activities.

Surely we are appalled at theterroristic events of that Tuesday inSeptember—because there weremany deaths and injuries. Yet, if weconsider that a vast number ofinnocent victims are killed every dayby abortion, we must ask ourselveswhich acts of terrorism are worse,the ones that happen unexpectedly,or, the ones that are publicly con-doned and sponsored? Evidently itis easy for most of us to overlook thefact that the systematic slaughter ofAmerican lives through abortionvastly outnumbers all deaths due towars and other terroristic activitiesin America’s history.

Perhaps we have become accus-tomed to the fact that there arethousands of deaths every year dueto drunk driving. There wereapproximately 17,000 in the year2000—17,000 deaths of mostlyinnocent men, women, and children.The terroristic attacks of September11 killed some 3,000 people. Whichterrorists should we be most afraidof—those we are developing at

home, or those who come fromabroad?

3. Entertainment

To really deal with the making ofa terrorist we must carefully evalu-ate the process of entertainment andeducation. Let us first look atentertainment:

In reality, all entertainment hasan educating influence. It is a well-known fact that certain types ofmusic, and entertainment, teach andbreed violence, and acts of what wecan call terrorism. At a rock concert,a man was deliberately harassed,then stabbed, and resolutely “pro-tected” from any assistance until hedied. I would classify this asterrorism. The music, and its accom-panying environment, spawned this

activity. Many similar incidentscould be cited. 3

In 1989, an attractive and caringyoung Yale graduate was brutallyattacked and gang raped in NewYork City’s Central Park by morethan 30 youngsters (most of themunder 16). They attacked her with apipe, then hacked her skull andthighs with a knife, and poundedher face with a brick. Mary McGrory,writing in the Washington Post, April30, 1989, said, “Obviously, theirparents, their schools, did not tellthem about the golden rule. Televi-sion, with its verbal and physicalviolence, its depiction of sex as aninstantly available right, its boorishhosts and witless guests, certainlydidn’t teach them.” 4 Tragically, thiskind of terrorism is not an unusual,one-time occurrence. Why did it takeplace?

George Will wrote in 1991, that:“For more than a generation, thefundamental act of American fun—watching television—has involved,for the average viewer, seeing 150

acts of violence and 15 murders aweek.” 5 Of course, the numberstoday are significantly higher. Is itpossible that we can overlook theconnection between viewing somuch violence and the rapidincrease of violent crime in ourcountry? Many children and youtharraigned for violent crimes ofmurder and aggression have statedthat they got their ideas fromtelevision. Between 1989 and 1990alone, the number of youth arrestedfor murder, manslaughter, forciblerape, robbery, and aggravatedassault increased by 16 per cent! 6

An extensive, long-term studyconducted by Dr. Centerwall, of theUniversity of Washington, showedthat TV is directly responsible for10,000 homicides, 70,000 rapes, and700,000 injurious assaults eachyear! 7

As long ago as 1972, a govern-ment report on television andviolence suggested the connectionbetween childhood TV viewing withits routine violence, and futureaggression and criminal acts. 8 Morerecently, numerous studies andbooks have shown some of thedevastating effects of viewingviolence on TV, shows on videos,and arcade games. 9 Almost allvideo-machine games operate on theprinciple of “destroy, or be de-stroyed.”

Most TV programming, even forlittle children, contains numerousdepictions of violence. One shockingincident shows the terrible results: Alittle boy around 6 years old,watching a cartoon show, saw“stars” circling the head of acartoon character who was hit onthe head in an act of violence. Alittle later he found a baseball batand with it hit his 4-year-old sisteron the head (killing her), but he waspuzzled because he did not see any“stars” flying around her head.

The Buffalo News, in 1988,reported that at that time TV pro-gramming had 55 times more violencethan real-life experience! 10 In the pastten years since the book was written,we have not seen a decrease in theviolence. In one example of thetypical—often sexual—violence of

Many children and youth arraigned for violent crimes of

murder and aggression have stated that they got their

ideas from television.


movie entertainment, a young girlwas raped with the end of a broomhandle. A mother with her smalldaughter had been watching the TVshow, but she turned it off at thatpoint. A few days later a group ofboys, who had also watched theshow raped the small daughter witha beer bottle. 11

We must ask the question: Whoare the real criminals in suchterrorism? Are they the boys whoengaged in acts rolemodeled forthem on TV, or on videos viewed intheir living rooms? Or are they theHollywood producers and actors whotaught the boys what to do and howto do it, planting the seeds ofviolence in their minds? A long-termstudy by researchers at the Univer-sity of Illinois showed that peoplewho had regularly watched TVviolence at eight years of age wereconsistently more prone to acts ofviolence (“terrorist” activities) by thetime they were 30 years old. 12

The plot of one TV show in-volved a bomb threat on an airplane,with the passengers held as hos-tages. Despite a vigorous protestfrom the Air Line Pilots’ Associa-tion, it was aired on nationaltelevision. Before the show was over,airlines started receiving bombthreats. Within one week eightairlines had received such bombthreats. Five years later the same filmwas shown in Australia withsimilar results. One airline eventu-ally ended up paying a half-million-dollar ransom to protect the 116passengers on a flight to HongKong. We rightly condemn theterrorists who conduct these bombthreats, but do we do anythingabout the terrorists who educatedand inspired them to do it by meansof television?

A chilling fact that shouldgalvanize us into action is describedin the book, Plug-in Drug by MarieWinn. In more recent years, a newbreed of criminals has surfaced:twelve-year-old muggers who preyon the elderly, casually torturingand murdering their helplessvictims, often for very small gains;youths assailing a bicyclist in a parkand beating him to death with a

chain before making off with hisbicycle; children breaking into anapartment and stomping on anelderly man, or drowning a womanin her bathtub.

The common factor characteriz-ing the present wave of childcriminals who kill, torture, and rape,seems to be a form of emotionaldetachment that allows them tocommit unspeakable acts of brutal andviolent crime with a complete absence ofnormal feelings—such as guilt orremorse. And the media entertain-ment has been largely, if not almostsolely, responsible for training themthis way. Here, truly, is the educa-tion of a terrorist. Now the questionis: Will we focus our attention onattacking the terrorists overseas, whileignoring the promotion and education ofterrorists here at home?

Friends, if we are really seriousabout diminishing terroristic activities,we must start by eliminating theentertainment shows that containviolence. Even the great publicitygiven to acts of violence on the newsspawns a certain interest in someminds to commit acts more horren-dous in order to gain greater publicity.We will show a terrible blindness ifwe spend billions on looking overseasfor terrorists while we continue tospend billions on entertainment thatbreeds terrorists here at home.

4. Education and Religion

It is a fact that the majority of“terroristic” acts have been carriedout in the name of religion (considerthe Crusades, the persecutions of theWaldenses, and so on). It is anaxiom of moral law that to the extentthat something can serve a good andupright purpose, to the same extent,when it is abused, misused, andperverted, it can serve an evil anddestructive purpose.

A true and upright use ofreligion produces citizens withupright moral standards. There is arestraining power in their convic-tions of right and wrong thatregulates their behavior and actions.The more knowledge they gain themore useful they are because theyuse that knowledge within theframework of their principles ofproper conduct. Correct principles ofconduct keep a person acting in acivil manner toward his neighbor,and society, at all times.

The government has the respon-sibility to maintain outward civilconduct in society. There are thosewho do not have the controllinginward conviction of moral principleto regulate their civil conduct. Allsuch persons are potential terrorists.Any person who has the controlling

power of moral convictions and thenloses that inward principle ofcontrol, is a potential terrorist. To theextent that any of us are liable tolose the controlling power of moralconviction, we are potential terror-ists.

Some people lack the strength ofconviction to keep them fromdrinking alcohol, and under itsinfluence commit atrocious acts of“terrorism.” Yet, little is being doneto stop this breeding ground ofterrorism. The civil government mustuse the “sword” to punish incivilityand to place a restraint through fearupon those who lack inward moralrestraint. As long as people behavein a civil manner toward their fellowman, no one has a right to punish orrestrain them because of what it issupposed that they might think, orbecome, or do in the future. Thegovernment’s role in preventing“terrorism” consists to a largedegree in placing penalties upon“terrorism” that are severe enough

To the extent that any of us are liable to lose the

controlling power of moral conviction, we are potential

terrorists.


to place a healthy fear in the heartsof those who lack moral principle.

Using different methods ofdefense is also a preventive measure.We prevent damage from rain bymaking a watertight roof, ratherthan analyzing every cloud, andthen blowing up the ones that mightdrop rain. Otherwise we would endup chasing every cloud.

Some of our methods of preven-tion for defense may involve tightersecurity in transportation, theelimination of terrorist trainingfacilities, and so forth. But themethod of prevention that mightendeavor to detect all who are likelyto engage in potential acts ofterrorism could easily end up goingtoo far. The civil government cannotsafely assume the role of identifyingthose religions or groups that arelikely to be dangerous, or of trying toregulate them beyond the bound-

aries which govern all civil relations.As soon as the government takessides for or against any religion,intolerance and religious persecu-tion are sure to result.

It is upon the churches that agreat weight of responsibility restsfor the education of correct prin-ciples of moral rectitude. Many yearsago a president of the United Statessaid:

“It was not education thatfounded religion, but it was religionthat founded education. It wasbeside the place of worship thatthere grew up the school.

“This important fact cannot beignored in our development ofeducation. Without its spirit eithercivilization will fall of its ownweight, and that deep, abidingwisdom which supports society willcease to exist, or we shall have atype of mind keen in intelligence,but greedy and cruel, which, armed

with the power of modern science todestroy, will in the end accomplishits own destruction. Without thepresence of a great directing moralforce, intelligence will either not bedeveloped, or if it be developed, willprove self-destructive.

“In education the whole beingmust be taken into consideration. Itis not enough to train the hand, theeye, to quicken the perception ofsense, develop the quickness of theintellect, and leave out of consider-ation the building of the character,the aspiration of the soul.

“We do not need more materialdevelopment, we need morespiritual development. We do notneed more knowledge, we needmore character. We do not needmore government, we need moreculture. We do not need more law,we need more religion. We do notneed more of the things that are

seen, we need more of the thingsthat are unseen. It is on that side oflife that it is desirable to put theemphasis at the present time. Ifthat side is strengthened, the otherside will take care of itself. It isthat side which is the foundationof all else. If the foundation be firmthe superstructure will stand.” 13

The churches bear a responsibil-ity to do for society what the civilgovernment cannot do—namely, toeducate our citizens in principles ofmorality in such a way that there isthe inward restraint of noble andupright principles of thought andaction.

5. The Urban Trend

Perhaps the disaster of September11, 2001, should be a wake-up callto Americans, and to the rest of theworld, that congregating together incities is not the best plan. Cities areprime targets for terrorism.

Around the end of the nineteenthcentury, 80% of the population livedout in the country and 20% in thecities. By the late 20th century, 80%of the population lived in the citiesand 20% lived out in the country.Some statistics now indicate that aslittle as 2% of the population aregrowing the food and agriculturalfiber produced in the United States.This makes the majority of thepopulation very dependent for food,fiber, and sustenance upon others.The sustaining of most of thepopulation has become an extremelyfragile and vulnerable process.

We can diminish the likelihoodof terrorism by diminishing the largepopulation centers that are attractivetargets for terroristic activities.Encouraging people to move out ofthe cities into places where theyhave enough land to grow food, ifnecessary, would greatly increasethe true strength and ability of ourpeople to avoid many liabilities ofcity living, and to weather theinevitable ups-and-downs of eco-nomic cycles.

About one hundred years ago anauthor with deep insight wrote,“Keep out of the cities. . . . Educateour people to get out of the citiesinto the country, where they canobtain a small piece of land, andmake a home for themselves andtheir children. . . . Erelong there willbe such strife and confusion in thecities, that those who wish to leavethem will not be able.” CountryLiving, pages 10–11.

Summary

Let us be exceedingly careful thatwe do not think that becausepersons with an Islamic backgroundcommitted acts of terrorism, thereforewe must be suspicious of all Islam-ics; let us not think that becausesome terrorists are of Arab descent,all people of Arab lineage are likelyto be terrorists.

Our government should appro-priately punish acts of terrorism, butwe must carefully consider the far-reaching implications of trying toidentify and eradicate “terrorists.”

Especially must we guard againstthe gross irresponsibility of thinking

Educate our people to get out of the cities into the

country, where they can obtain a small piece of land,

and make a home for themselves and their children.


that in punishing innocent people wewould be getting back at those whohave committed terroristic crimes, forin doing so we would be committingone of the most heinous of terroristiccrimes—that of wrongfully deprivingothers of their inalienable rights of“life, liberty, and the pursuit ofhappiness” simply in the name ofwanting to feel a greater sense of“security” for ourselves.

One of the features of America’sstrength and nobility has been itshaven of freedom, and liberty ofconscience, regardless of race, creed,or ethnic background. Our Constitu-tion has sustained the great prin-ciple of freedom displayed in theright of a person to be considered“innocent until proven guilty.” Whata tragedy it would be if we were todiscard these important principles ofliberty in the pursuit of those whomwe might classify as “terrorist”because of race, religion, or back-ground. It might be that the greatestterroristic threat begins much closerto home than we think. !

References:1 “When Evil Confronts Us . . . How Should

We Respond?” SIGNS Special Issue, pub-lished by Pacific Press Publishing Associa-tion, 11.

2 See Washington Post article found ontheir website ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/nation/specials/attacked/A3472–2001Oct28.html ).

3 Reported in “The Satanic Roots of Rock ’nRoll” by Donald Phau, The New Federalist,July 27, 1989. This was one of many inci-dents described, and which took placeduring the performance of the RollingStones’ “Sympathy for the Devil.”

4 Remote Controlled, 93.5 Washington Post, February 14, 1991.6 Remote Controlled, 98.7 Ibid., 99.8 See Television and Growing Up: The Impact

of Televised Violence, Report to the SurgeonGeneral from The Surgeon General’s Scien-tific Advisory Committee on Televisionand Social Behavior, January 19, 1972.Note especially that on pages 201–202,the definition of violence is broadened toinclude the experience of the victims ofviolence, even when such violence is ac-complished through bureaucratic or insti-tutional activities.

9 For documentation of some of these seeJoe Wheeler, Remote Controlled, Review &Herald Publishing Company, 1993.

10 See The Television Time Bomb, 34.11 Ibid., 35.12 Ibid., 30.13 Calvin Coolidge (1925), America’s Great

Need for Education, 74–75.

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news watchJOHN KORPONAY

Have a news item of interest?contact [email protected] mail or fax us a copy, see page 3

Learning From Babylon?

News Item: Professor of psychologyat the Graduate School of Psychol-ogy, Fuller Theological Seminary,

Evangelical Presbyterian minis-ter,

Professor of preaching at FullerTheological Seminary,

Pastor of William and Mary HartPresbyterian Church,

Minister for the Society of FriendsPlymouth Congregational Church,

Word Publishing,John Knox Press,Advertising for Professional

Growth Seminars, “Pulpits on Fire”:“Hear the Word well-handled bymen and women known for dy-namic, life-changing preaching.Discover again how great preachingcan rebuild a nation, a communityand a congregation.” Ministry,January 2002.

End-time Perspective: What do allof the above ministers of otherdenominations, professors from non-Seventh-day Adventist schools, non-Seventh-day Adventist publishersand advertising have in common? Afew things: 1) They all appear in theJanuary 2002, issue of Ministrymagazine, the main organ of theMinisterial Department of theSeventh-day Adventist (SDA)Church, to help inspire pastors inour churches; 2) They are all non-Seventh-day Adventist except for the“Pulpits on Fire” Seminars, spon-sored by Ministry magazine; how-ever, even the seminar speakers aremostly non-SDA; 3) A large portionof the magazine is made up ofarticles by the ministers and profes-sors listed.

It is a very sad and alarming daywhen we, who have the true doc-trines of Scripture, and have beengiven the commission to call people

out of Babylon, invite teachers andpreachers from Babylon (thoughthey may be there unwittingly), toinspire and teach us. The titles oftwo of the articles in the magazine,“Preaching Christian Doctrine,”and, “Preaching with Freedom,”illustrate the point.

In the book review section all therecommended reading is by non-SDA writers. It is even statedregarding one book: “While Advent-ists who have a unique understand-ing of eschatology may find some ofthe interpretations of the Apocalypseand the last-day events not to theirliking, there is plenty of backgroundmaterial even here as to be of criticalusefulness for biblical preaching. Forexample, the study of the sevenchurches has much to offer to ourpreaching on the subject.”

The Scripture says that bybeholding we become changed. See2 Corinthians 3:18. This is anotherevidence showing the change withinour church that indicates that weare repeating the history of Israel ofold in their apostasy.

We are not just in the time of theend, but at the end of time. Therewill not be another denomination.The Lord will use those who havebeen drinking His pure and cleanwater of life—not imbibing the wineof Babylon. He will pour out HisSpirit upon them, enabling them tofinish proclaiming the warningmessage.

Harry Potter—Good or Bad?

News Item #1: “The most obviousproblem, of course, is the author’suse of the symbol-world of the occultas her primary metaphor, andoccultic activities as the dramaticengine of the plots. It presents theseto the child reader through attractiverole models, such as Harry andHermione, who are students of

witchcraft and sorcery. This has thepotential of lowering a child’s guard—both subconscious and spiritual—to actual occult activity, which iseverywhere and growing. . . .”

“Wholesome fantasy, regardlessof how wildly imaginative it may be,reinforces the moral order of theuniverse in a child’s mind. Corruptfantasy undermines it. The Potterworld is corrupt fantasy with a littlecosmetics. The cosmetics are the‘values’ woven into the tale by theauthor.

“In modern culture, we have allbecome accustomed to eating acertain amount of poison in our diet;indeed, most of us no longer evenrecognize the poison.

“I believe that’s why manyeducators and parents simply don’trecognize the scope of the problemwith the Potter books. . . .”

“Most urgently, we must recog-nize that the nature of the spiritualwar in which we are all immersed ischanging rapidly, entering a newphase of intensity.”

Source: National Catholic Register,December 16–22, 2001, from anarticle entitled “Michael O’Brien:Beware the Danger of Harry Potter.”

News Item #2: “These stories werenever intended for children underage 7. If your child must read thebooks, be sure to read them to him/her. Stop and discuss what you arereading. Ask, ‘Is this glorifyingJesus, or the other guy?’

“Author Sally Pierson Dillonoffers the following recommenda-tions for parents or leaders who facedecisions about these books:

“• Remember who the enemyis, and who the enemy ISN’T: HarryPotter is NOT the enemy. . . . Satan isthe enemy.

“• Know who is at risk: Youngpeople who are curious, dissatisfied,bereaved, psychically inclined,rebellious, credulous, or evenconformists can be at risk fromreading this material. . . .

“• Get your facts straight: HarryPotter is NOT a ‘Satanist’ book orone that teaches witchcraft. Harry


Potter IS a book that glamorizes thesupernatural. (Many other widelysold books—past and present—dothis as well.)”

“• Don’t be intimidated by theoccult: [1 John 4:4, NIV quoted.]. . . .

“• Put on your armor beforestudying about these issues.”

Christianity Today, January 10,2000, is quoted, saying, “Rowling’sseries is a Book of Virtues with apreadolescent funny bone. Amid thelaugh-out-loud scenes are wonderfulexamples of compassion, loyalty,courage, friendship, and even self-sacrifice. No wonder young readerswant to be like these believablecharacters.”

Source: “Dealing with HarryPotter: Fight or Flight” in theChildren’s Leader, Spring 2001,published by the Children’s Minis-tries Department, North AmericanDivision of Seventh-day Adventists.

End-time Perspective: As you readthe above quotations, you will noticethat one is from Catholics, and theother from Seventh-day Adventists.We are just about overwhelmed atthe contrast between what thefollowers of the beast power, whosee the danger, are saying, and howwe, who are supposed to be sound-ing a clear note of warning, areactually muting and mitigating thewarnings of danger. However, EllenWhite gives clear warnings regard-ing this issue:

“As spiritualism more closelyimitates the nominal Christianity ofthe day, it has greater power todeceive and ensnare. Satan himselfis converted, after the modern orderof things. He will appear in thecharacter of an angel of light. . . .

“The line of distinction betweenprofessed Christians and theungodly is now hardly distinguish-

able. Church members love what theworld loves and are ready to joinwith them, and Satan determines tounite them in one body and thusstrengthen his cause by sweeping allinto the ranks of spiritualism.” TheGreat Controversy, 588.

“As the storm approaches, alarge class who have professed faithin the third angel’s message, buthave not been sanctified throughobedience to the truth, abandon theirposition and join the ranks of theopposition. By uniting with theworld and partaking of its spirit,they have come to view matters innearly the same light; and when thetest is brought, they are prepared tochoose the easy, popular side.” Ibid.,608.

Let us pray for eyesalve andrepent of our blindness—individu-ally and corporately—before it is toolate. !

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Hope International marked “Advent Books,” and we will forward it on to Advent Books.


“Truly God is good to Israel,even to such as are of a cleanheart. But as for me, my feet

were almost gone; my steps had wellnigh slipped. For I was envious atthe foolish, when I saw the prosper-ity of the wicked.” Psalm 73:1–3.Just as David wondered and ago-nized over the seeming unfairness ofthe apparent success of the sinfullifestyles of those around him, manyother discouraged believers throughthe ages have also agonized over theapparent victory of evil over good.

But in verse 17 the psalmist tellsus how he discovered the answer tohis agony of soul: “Until I went intothe sanctuary of God; then under-stood I their end.” He went into thesanctuary of God’s presence andgained the understanding he neededto keep his trust firmly in the Lord.“But it is good for me to draw nearto God: I have put my trust in theLord GOD, that I may declare all thyworks.” Verse 28.

Centuries later, when God’searthly sanctuary was destroyed inthe time of Daniel, and evil seemedto have total control of even God’s

place of worship, God revealed toone of His most trusted servants theexact time when the sins that defiledGod’s sanctuary would finally betaken care of, bringing in the finaltriumph of righteousness: “Then Iheard one saint speaking, andanother saint said unto that certainsaint which spake, How long shallbe the vision concerning the dailysacrifice, and the transgression ofdesolation, to give both the sanctu-ary and the host to be trodden underfoot? And he said unto me, Untotwo thousand and three hundreddays; then shall the sanctuary becleansed.” Daniel 8:13–14.

In the September 2001 issue ofOur Firm Foundation, an articleentitled “1844: Is It Biblical?” waspublished showing how we haveestablished the exact dates involvedin the 2300-year prophecy, andshowing how the word of prophecyhas come true in history. Let us nowtake a closer look at the cleansing ofthe sanctuary.

When we look at the Jewishchurch in Jesus’ day, we see a greatignorance of the issues involved in

the sanctuary services. The serviceswere performed every day, but thepeople lost sight of what theyrepresented—the issues of sin,cleansing, and righteousness.

It was because of the people’sunwillingness to let go of this worldand what it offers, that their mindsbecame clouded, which resulted incompromise after compromise withit. Their definition of darkness andlight was not God’s definition, forpopularity with peers had blindedtheir discernment. “And the lightshineth in darkness; and the dark-ness comprehended it not. . . . Hecame unto his own, and his ownreceived him not.” John 1:5, 11.

So it happened, as God foretoldthrough Isaiah in chapter 53, thatthey decided that the pure, holy, Sin-bearer was the sinful One, and notthemselves: “Surely he hath borneour griefs, and carried our sorrows:yet we did esteem him stricken,smitten of God, and afflicted.” Verse4. They rejected the very One theyneeded for salvation and deliver-ance. Yet God, through His amazinggrace, gave them another chance to

J o h n K o r p o n a y

The Sanctuary TruthThe Sanctuary Truth

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have a place in His kingdom. Thischance was given them at theoutpouring of the Holy Spirit atPentecost.

We are familiar with the historythat followed this great illumination,and how Satan tried to choke it out.But again, God, by His great grace,caused light to shine during theReformation era so that those whowere in ignorance of God’s power tosave, would be given knowledge.The reformers preached and taughtthe forgiveness of sins, and God’sacceptance of the penitent sinnerthrough His righteousness—all byfaith in God and His promises. Thisaspect of our salvation is all symbol-ized in the outer court and holy-place ministry of the sanctuaryservice.

An Israelite who realized that hehad disobeyed one of God’s com-mandments came to the sanctuarybringing the specified animal for asin offering. He then confessed hissin over it, symbolically transferringhis sin to it. The animal’s blood wasshed in the place of his own so thathe could receive forgiveness.

These sins were not removedfrom the sanctuary during the year;they remained until the great andsolemn Day of Atonement. That daywas designated by God to be used tocleanse the sanctuary of all the sinsthat had been collected there duringthe year. It is also very interesting tonote that there was preparationrequired for that day. For nine daysbefore, the “feast of blowing oftrumpets” signaled that the sacredyear was about to close, and that allof the sins from the past year thathad accumulated in the sanctuarywould be finally cleansed away onthe approaching Day of Atonement.It was to be the most solemn, sacredSabbath of the year.

Let us note the two requirementsthat were to be participated in by thewhole congregation on that day, onpain of death: one was to afflict yoursoul; the other was to do no secularwork: “For whatsoever soul it bethat shall not be afflicted in thatsame day, he shall be cut off fromamong his people. And whatsoeversoul it be that doeth any work in

that same day, the same soul will Idestroy from among his people.”Leviticus 23:29–30.

Even the under and outerclothing of the priest had to be of asacred, holy kind, according toGod’s direction. See Leviticus 16:4.

After the great disappointment of1844 the realization that the cleans-ing of the sanctuary in heaven hadbegun, brought comfort and courageto the believers. It also helped clarifythe nature of the warning messageto be given to Babylon and its sisterchurches.

Ye Are the Temple of God

Another very important aspect ofthe sanctuary and the temple of Godneeds to be brought in here. Accord-ing to Paul and Jesus, the temple ofGod, in a mysterious way, is also inus: “Know ye not that ye are thetemple of God, and that the Spirit ofGod dwelleth in you? If any mandefile the temple of God, him shallGod destroy; for the temple of God isholy, which temple ye are.”1 Corinthians 3:16–17. When Jesuswas here, He referred to His body asthe temple of God: “But he spake ofthe temple of his body.” John 2:21.

As we are brought into unionwith God, we need to realize that webecome a sanctuary for Him. Thework that is going on in the heav-enly sanctuary must also take placewithin us, for we represent God’ssanctuary here on earth.

The Lord declared through theprophet Isaiah, “For thus saith thehigh and lofty One that inhabitetheternity, whose name is Holy; I dwellin the high and holy place, with himalso that is of a contrite and humblespirit, to revive the spirit of thehumble, and to revive the heart of thecontrite ones.” Isaiah 57:15.

Rest From Your Own Works

Brothers and sisters, are youliving in the attitude of the Day ofAtonement, afflicting your soul,resting from your own works andrealizing that it is very possible thatyour probation could close at anytime?

The rest that the Israelites werecommanded to observe on that dayneeds to be observed by us everyday. We can do this by not concen-trating on getting ahead of others,getting a better job, building a bigger

house; on what, when, and where toentertain ourselves; or on worryingif our retirement nest egg is bigenough to keep us in comfort. Theseare just a few of the worries that theaverage, worldly minded personcannot rest from. But we are notsupposed to be of this world. Wemay have a security and a rest thatthe natural man does not knowabout, if we have “ceased from ourown works” (see Hebrews 4:10), andhave stopped making “provision forthe flesh” (Romans 13:14).

When we look at Jesus and trustHim every day during the week,then the seventh-day Sabbath willbecome a delight, because accordingto the commandment we do nothave to talk of worldly goals, plans,and pleasures. See Isaiah 58:13. Thisis the only way that the seventh-daySabbath becomes the seal inwardlyand outwardly for the members ofthe church of God—truly enteringinto God’s rest physically, mentally,and spiritually.

Afflict Your Soul

The second requirement on theDay of Atonement necessary inorder for us to participate in it isnot as pleasant for us to fulfill as

Are you living in the attitude of the Day of Atonement,

afflicting your soul, resting from your own works and

realizing that it is very possible that your probation

could close at any time?


the first, but it is very necessary tobreak Satan’s hold upon us,especially as we near the day ofour redemption. The Israelite wasto afflict his soul by examining hislife throughout the past year, andin the present. Ours must not bemerely a casual or superficialexamination, but one that goesdeep—so deep that it hurts—tofind the idols of distrust, dishon-esty, selfishness, and pride that arehiding in our hearts.

Notice that in Hebrews 4, aftertelling us to enter into God’s rest (ason the Day of Atonement), Paulwarns us that we must prepare for aday of accounting: “For the word ofGod is quick, and powerful, andsharper than any twoedged sword,piercing even to the dividing

asunder of soul and spirit, and ofthe joints and marrow, and is adiscerner of the thoughts and intentsof the heart. Neither is there anycreature that is not manifest in hissight: but all things are naked andopened unto the eyes of him withwhom we have to do.” Hebrews4:12–13.

God’s people were directed to“afflict” their souls, emphasizingthe seriousness and vital impor-tance of examining their motivesand thoughts. The only differencefor us now is that we should notbe waiting for a certain day tocome: “Behold, now is the acceptedtime; behold, now is the day ofsalvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2. Nowis the time to cooperate with theHoly Spirit. Now is the time toknow whether we are truly in lovewith Christ, or if we are just doinga great job of acting.

Where is your heart? Who reallyhas it? God forbid that it is like Lot’swife’s—still in Sodom—or like theIsraelites’—still in Egypt. But, if it is,

admit it and repent quickly whilewe still have an Advocate with theFather. Repent with a repentancethat need not be repented of, follow-ing the example of Peter and theother disciples. See 2 Corinthians7:10.

Do not be afraid to discover thetruth, because it will come out—either now by your will, or later byGod’s will when it will be too late.The unrepentant soul will find noshelter from the wrath of God: “AndI heard a great voice out of thetemple saying to the seven angels,Go your ways, and pour out thevials of the wrath of God upon theearth.” Revelation 16:1.

Pray and work with God torecover your first-love experience:“Nevertheless I have somewhat

against thee, because thou hast leftthy first love. Remember thereforefrom whence thou art fallen, andrepent, and do the first works; orelse I will come unto thee quickly,and will remove thy candlestick outof his place, except thou repent.”Revelation 2:4–5.

These two elements—restingfrom our own works and afflictingthe soul on account of sin—these arethe practical applications of thesanctuary truth that the churches ofBabylon have rejected ever since1844. What a unique privilege andresponsibility is upon us to live andshare this truth that no other churchbelieves, much less teaches! Thewarning message of the third angelmust be sounded, so that thosedeceived ones who are in darknessmay be saved.

We are to live daily in the fearand love of God, waiting with eagerexpectation for His appearing,working with Him for the salvationof those around us. May the Lordhelp us. !

Do not be afraid to discover the truth, because it will

come out—either now by your will, or later by God’s will

when it will be too late.

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“Sanctify the Lord God in yourhearts: and be ready always to givean answer to every man that askethyou a reason of the hope that is inyou with meekness and fear.”1 Peter 3:15. We need to be able togive an answer for our faith. Mark-ing your Bible can give you the edgeyou need. It takes work, but therewards are worth all the effort.

We pray that you will be blessedby these studies. As you mark them,may you be encouraged to spendmore time in God’s Word and tosearch out the hidden things of God.Always be sure to look for opportu-nities to share them with others.

The Editors

Bible Marking Directions

• On a blank page in the front orback of your Bible, write the studytitle, the code, and the first reference.This month’s entry would appear asfollows: Christ’s Human Nature,CHN1: Genesis 3:15.

• Turn to the first verse and writethe comment (if you wish to use thecomments), and the next reference inthe margin near it. If the comment islong, you can write it at the top orbottom of the page, with an asteriskor the code of the study to refer youto it.

• Turn to the next text and repeatthe process until you reach the end.Beside the last text, write “EndCHN.”

• Go through the study to checkfor broken links.

• Share the study with someone!

How to mark your Bible and be ready to share your faith

defending the faithGWEN RICHTER

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For more information on Bible marking, or for a greater selection ofstudies, go to http://www.biblemarking.com or refer to “Mark Your Bible!”in the August 2001 issue of Our Firm Foundation.

Christ’s Human Nature

With “every wind of doctrine”blowing in Adventism today, wemust be grounded in truth andprepared to defend it as thrustscome from every direction. Lastmonth we looked at the Divinity ofChrist; this month we study Christ’shuman nature.

CHN1: Genesis 3:15.

God promised Adam and Evethat He would send “the seed of thewoman” to rescue us from ourenemy.

CHN2: Philippians 2:7.

Jesus was made in the likeness ofmen.

CHN3: Romans 1:3.

God’s Son Jesus Christ wasmade flesh.

CHN4: Romans 8:3.

He was made in sinful flesh justas we are.

CHN5: Galatians 4:4–5.

He was subject to the law just aswe are.

CHN6: Hebrews 2:11, 14–18.

Jesus was “tempted like as weare” because He was “made likeunto his brethren.”

CHN7: Mark 2:28.

Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath,referred to Himself as “the Son of

man,” thereby identifying Himselfwith us.

CHN 8: Hebrews 4:15–16.

As the Son of man, Jesus had noadvantage over us — we, too, canlive victoriously over sin by thepower of the Holy Spirit.

CHN9: Matthew 1:21.

Jesus came to save us from oursins.

CHN10: John 8:34–36.

The Son of God and of man canmake us free from sin—from trans-gressing against the law.

CHN11: 1 John 3:4–5.

Jesus was manifested to takeaway our sins.

CHN12: Titus 2:11–14.

Jesus gave Himself to redeem usfrom iniquity, and to purify a peopleunto good works.

CHN13: Hebrews 5:8–9.

Jesus was our Example ofobedience.

CHN14: Romans 8:2–6, 13.

As Jesus conquered sin bycombining human nature with Hisdivine nature, we can receivethrough Him power to live a life ofrighteousness by combining ourhuman nature with His divinenature. !


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he Lord has condescended togive you an outpouring of HisHoly Spirit. At the camp

meetings, and in our variousinstitutions, a great blessing hasbeen showered upon you. You havebeen visited by the heavenly messen-gers of light and truth and power,and it should not be thought astrange thing that God should thusbless you. How does Christ subdueHis chosen people to Himself?—It isby the power of His Holy Spirit; forthe Holy Spirit, through the Scrip-tures, speaks to the mind, andimpresses truth upon the hearts ofmen.

Before His crucifixion, Christpromised that the Comforter shouldbe sent to His disciples. He said: “Itis expedient for you that I go away:for if I go not away, the Comforterwill not come unto you; but if Idepart, I will send him unto you.And when he is come, he willreprove the world of sin, and ofrighteousness, and of judgment. . . .When he, the Spirit of truth, is come,he will guide you into all truth: forhe shall not speak of himself; butwhatsoever he shall hear, that shall

he speak; and he will shew youthings to come. He shall glorify me:for he shall receive of mine, andshall shew it unto you.” John 16:7–8, 13–14.

This promise of Christ has beenmade little enough of, and becauseof a dearth of the Spirit of God, thespirituality of the law and its eternalobligations have not been compre-hended. Those who have professedto love Christ, have not compre-hended the relation which existsbetween them and God, and it isstill but dimly outlined to theirunderstanding. They but vaguelycomprehend the amazing grace ofGod in giving His only begotten Sonfor the salvation of the world. Theydo not understand how far reachingare the claims of the holy law, howintimately the precepts of the laware to be brought into practical life.They do not realize what a greatprivilege and necessity are prayer,repentance, and the doing of theWords of Christ. It is the office of theHoly Spirit to reveal to the mind thecharacter of the consecration thatGod will accept. Through the agencyof the Holy Spirit, the soul is

enlightened, and the character isrenewed, sanctified, and uplifted.

Through the deep movings of theSpirit of God, I have had openedbefore me the character of the workof the visitation of the Spirit of God.I have had opened before me thedanger in which souls would beplaced who had been thus visited;for afterward, they would have tomeet fiercer assaults of the enemy,who would press upon them histemptations to make of none effectthe workings of the Spirit of God,and cause that the momentoustruths presented and witnessed bythe Holy Spirit, should not purifyand sanctify those who had receivedthe light of Heaven, and thus causethat Christ should not be glorified inthem.

The period of great spirituallight, if that light is not sacredlycherished and acted upon, will beturned into a time of correspondingspiritual darkness. The impressionmade by the Spirit of God, if men donot cherish the sacred impression,and occupy holy ground, will fadefrom the mind. Those who wouldadvance in spiritual knowledge

E l l e n G . W h i t e


must stand by the very fount of God,and drink again and again from theWells of salvation so graciouslyopened unto them. They must neverleave the Source of refreshment; butwith hearts swelling with gratitudeand love at the display of thegoodness and compassion of God,they must be continually partakersof the living Water.

O, how much this means to everysoul—“I am the light of the world(John 8:12);” “I am the bread of life:he that cometh to me shall neverhunger [for anything more satisfy-ing]; and he that believeth on meshall never thirst” (John 6:35). Tocome to this condition means thatyou have found the Source of lightand love, and have learned whenand how you may be replenished,and may make use of the promisesof God by continually applyingthem to your souls.

“But I said unto you, That yealso have seen me, and believe not.”Verse 36. This has been literallyfulfilled in the cases of many; for theLord gave them a deeper insight intotruth, into His character of mercyand compassion and love; and yetafter being thus enlightened, theyhave turned from Him in unbelief.They saw the deep movings of theSpirit of God; but when the insidi-ous temptations of Satan came in, asthey always will come after a seasonof revival, they did not resist untoblood, striving against sin; andthose who might have stood onvantage ground, had they made aright use of the precious enlighten-ment that they had, were overcomeby the enemy. They should havereflected the light that God gave tothem upon the souls of others; theyshould have worked and acted inharmony with the sacred revealingsof the Holy Spirit; and in not doingso, they suffered loss.

Among the students the spirit offun and frolic was indulged. Theybecame so interested in playinggames that the Lord was crowdedout of their minds; and Jesus stoodamong you in the playground,saying, O that thou hadst known,“even thou, at least in this thy day,the things which belong unto thy

peace!” Luke 19:42. “Ye also haveseen me, and believe not.” Yes;Christ revealed Himself to you, anddeep impressions were made as theHoly Spirit moved upon your hearts;but you pursued a course by whichyou lost these sacred impressions,and failed to maintain the victory.“All that the Father giveth me shallcome to me; and him that cometh tome I will in no wise cast out.” John6:37. You began to come to Christ,but you did not abide in Christ. Youforsook Him, and the realization youhad had of the great favors andblessings He had given you, waslost from your heart.

The question of amusementoccupied so large a place in yourminds, that after the solemn visita-tion of the Spirit of God, you enteredinto its discussion with such greatzeal that all barriers were brokendown; and through your passion forgames, you neglected to heed theWord of Christ: “Watch ye and pray,lest ye enter into temptation.” Mark14:38. The place that should havebeen occupied by Jesus was usurpedby your passion for games. Youchose your amusements instead ofthe comfort of the Holy Spirit. Youdid not follow the example of Jesus,who said, “I came down fromheaven, not to do mine own will, butthe will of him that sent me.” John6:38.

The minds of many are sobewildered with their own humandesires and inclinations, and theyhave been so in the habit of indulg-ing them, that they cannot compre-hend the true sense of the Scriptures.Many suppose that in followingChrist they will be obliged to begloomy and disconsolate, becausethey are required to deny themselvesthe pleasures and follies that theworld indulge in. The living Chris-

tian will be filled with cheerfulnessand peace, because he lives asseeing Him who is invisible; andthose who seek Christ in His truecharacter have within them theelements of everlasting life, becausethey are partakers of the divinenature, having escaped the corrup-tions that are in the world throughlust. Jesus said, “This is the Father’swill which hath sent me, that of allwhich he hath given me I shouldlose nothing, but should raise it upagain at the last day. And this is thewill of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, andbelieveth on him, may have everlast-

ing life: and I will raise him up atthe last day.” Verses 39–40.

All spiritual life is derived fromJesus Christ. “As many as receivedhim, to them gave he power tobecome the sons of God.” John 1:12.But what is the sure result ofbecoming a child of God?—Theresult is that we become laborerstogether with God. There is a greatwork to be done for your own soul’ssalvation, and to qualify you to winothers from unbelief to a life sus-tained by faith in Christ Jesus.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hethat believeth on me [with a casualfaith?—No, with an abiding faiththat works by love and purifies thesoul] hath everlasting life. I am thatbread of life. . . . I am the living breadwhich came down from heaven: ifany man eat of this bread, he shalllive for ever: and the bread that Iwill give is my flesh, which I willgive for the life of the world. . . .Except ye eat the flesh of the Son ofman, and drink his blood, ye haveno life in you. Whoso eateth myflesh, and drinketh my blood, hatheternal life; and I will raise him upat the last day. . . . It is the spirit that

The period of great spiritual light, if that light is not

sacredly cherished and acted upon, will be turned into a

time of corresponding spiritual darkness.

continued on page 23


This month we share with you thenext in a series of articles that discusshow we can cultivate Christian charactertraits in the hearts of our children. “TheGarden of the Heart,” in the February2001 issue of Our Firm Foundation,laid the foundation for this series. It isavailable upon request.

The Editors

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faithful person is one whofulfills his responsibility, istrustworthy, and acts from

principle. Faithfulness is more thana child obeying because his parentshave asked him to do a certainthing. A child who has learned to befaithful will do the right thing—evenwhen his mother and father are notwith him. Faithfulness at its mostbasic level is our faith connecting uswith God to accomplish whateverwe need to do.

Can you think of any charactersin the Bible who were faithful?—There are many: the little maid,Joseph, Daniel, Samuel, Esther andDavid. These stories are not simplyhistory. They were given to us thatwe might learn important lessons forour lives. When you read the storyof Joseph to your child, take theopportunity to explain to him howJoseph was faithful in all the aspectsof his life. Then take it the next step,and ask, “Now, how can you befaithful today? How can you befaithful like Joseph, or David, or thelittle maid?”

Teach Faithfulness in LittleThings

Faithfulness is fulfilling yourresponsibility, but it also goes deeperthan that. It is being trustworthy,knowing what is right, and thendoing it—even when others are notwatching. We find an important

principle in Luke 16:10: “He that isfaithful in that which is least isfaithful also in much.”

What is “the least” for a youngchild?—It might be clearing theirbowl from the table. That is a littlething, but when the child learns tocheerfully put his bowl where itbelongs, he is ready to practice thesame faithfulness in a larger task. Itincludes not only the act, but theattitude in carrying it out.

Do Not Excuse Your Child

Encouraging faithfulness in ourchildren requires time and patienceon the part of the parent. I mayneed to have my child rewrite aword she put on the paper becauseit was not very neat. I may have tocall my child back to rewash a dishthat is still dirty. When our childrenhave not been thorough, faithfulnesscalls them back to finish the job. Letus not find ourselves getting into thehabit of saying, “Oh, that is goodenough, I will do the rest for you.”

We must be careful that we donot teach our children to be slothfulbecause we grow tired of theprotracted effort, or are toopreoccupied to give them theguidance they need. Lack offaithfulness in this area leads tohandicaps that our children shouldnot go through life with—such asnot being able to read well, spellvery well, structure sentences in aletter, or prepare a wholesome, well-balanced meal. What a blessedopportunity we have as parents toshow, teach, and train our childrenon how to be faithful in all aspectsof real, everyday life!

Give Greater Responsibilities

As children grow older we cancontinue to cultivate faithfulness in

them by giving them more, andlarger, responsibilities. Theseresponsibilities can even bemotivators for them. Our family livesin Montana, where it is very cold inthe winter. Wood is the fuel we useto heat our home, cook our meals,and heat our water, therefore, it is avital necessity for our lifestyle. Weoften go out together as a family togather wood. Our son, Josiah, lovesto go! As he has grown older, he hasbecome very interested in hisfather’s chainsaw. He wanted tolearn how to run the chainsaw, andthen, of course, he began asking tohave his own saw.

We told Josiah, “You must befaithful in all that you do, so that weknow we can trust you with achainsaw. We want to know thatwhen you have a chainsaw you willbe obedient and never operate itwithout your father’s presence,permission, or guidance.” This wasa strong incentive for Josiah, andwhen he was thirteen, we did gethim a chainsaw. He has provenhimself to be very trustworthy, safe,and reliable, and now he runs thechainsaw independently. So does thismean that every thirteen-year-old shouldhave a chainsaw?—Certainly not! Onlyafter a child has learned to be faithful,and has proven himself to betrustworthy in his other responsibilities,should such a trust be given to him.Josiah has learned to be faithful, and so,now we can trust him with this biggerresponsibility.

In the book, Christ’s ObjectLessons, 360, we find this wonderfulcommentary on what the results offaithfulness in the small things willbe: “By faithfulness in little duties, weare to work on the plan of addition,and God will work for us on theplan of multiplication. These littles

Faithfulness


will become the most preciousinfluences in His work.

“Let a living faith run likethreads of gold through theperformance of even the smallestduties. Then all the daily work willpromote Christian growth. Therewill be a continual looking untoJesus. Love for Him will give vitalforce to everything that isundertaken. Thus through the rightuse of our talents, we may linkourselves by a golden chain to thehigher world. This is truesanctification; for sanctificationconsists in the cheerful performanceof daily duties in perfect obedienceto the will of God.” What blessedwords of encouragement these arefor us to faithfully cultivatefaithfulness in our children andyouth! !

Next month we will discuss howto cultivate generosity.

quickeneth; the flesh profitethnothing: the words that I speak untoyou, they are spirit, and they are life.But there are some of you thatbelieve not. For Jesus knew from thebeginning who they were thatbelieved not, and who should betrayhim. And he said, Therefore said Iunto you, that no man can comeunto me, except it were given untohim of my Father.” John 6:47–48, 51,53–54, 63–65.

When Jesus spoke these words,He spoke them with authority,assurance, and power. At times Hemanifested Himself in such a waythat the deep movings of His Spiritwere sensibly realized. But manywho saw and heard and partici-pated in the blessings of the hour,went their way, and soon forgot thelight He had given them.

The treasures of eternity havebeen committed to the keeping ofJesus Christ, to give to whomsoeverHe will; but how sad it is that somany quickly lose sight of theprecious grace that is proffered untothem through faith in Him. He will

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impart the heavenly treasures tothose who will believe in Him, lookto Him, and abide in Him. Hethought it not robbery to be equalwith God, and He knows norestraint nor control in bestowingthe heavenly treasures upon whomHe will. He does not exalt andhonor the great ones of the world,who are flattered and applauded;but He calls upon His chosen,peculiar people who love and serveHim, to come unto Him and ask,and He will give them the bread oflife, and endow them with the waterof life, which shall be in them as awell of water springing up untoeverlasting life.

Jesus brought to our world theaccumulated treasures of God, andall who believe upon Him areadopted as His heirs. He declaresthat great shall be the reward of themwho suffer for His name’s sake. It iswritten, “Eye hath not seen, nor earheard, neither have entered into theheart of man, the things which Godhath prepared for them that lovehim.” 1 Corinthians 2:9. !

Review and Herald, January 30, 1894.

continued from page 21

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Saul made an appearance of greatconscientiousness and devo-tion, as he stood before the

army of Israel, offering up a sacrificeto God. He represented himselfbefore the people as one who wasunwilling to engage in battle withthe Philistines, without seeking thehelp of Heaven, but his heart wasfilled with distrust, and his appar-ent piety was, in reality, onlyunbelief and disobedience. He hadbeen directed by the prophet of Godthat when he was brought into justsuch circumstances of trial heshould wait until seven days hadexpired, and that at the terminationof the days appointed, Samuelwould come unto him, and offer thesacrifice, and tell him what heshould do to honor God and saveIsrael, but Saul had failed to bear thetest that God had permitted to comeupon him, and he resolved to offerthe sacrifice himself, and wait nolonger for the priest ordained of Godto perform the sacred service.

The king beheld the Philistinesarrayed for battle. He saw his own

E l l e n G . W h i t e

soldiers filled with alarm, and hisranks thinning with frequentdesertions, and, instead of trustingin the Word of God, and waitingpatiently for His salvation, hebecame faithless and discouraged. Inthe hope of again rallying hisscattered troops, he was willing toviolate the direction of God, andoffer an offering before the Lord, thathe might have the approval of thepeople, and gather them to his sideto war against the enemy.

The prophet had declared thatthe Lord would reveal what coursethe king should pursue when theseven days were ended; but he didnot wait for the arrival of the man ofGod, but took the matter into hisown hands. If he had but waited infaith and patience and rested in thepromise of God, what lessons oftrust might have come down toinspire us as the result of his lifeand experience! What a help hemight have been to Israel, if he hadbut stood the test in that hour oftrial! He might have revealed thework of the Spirit of God in his

heart. Through him might have beenmanifested the power and willing-ness of Jehovah to bless His waitingpeople. If he had fulfilled theconditions upon which the help waspromised, the Lord would havewrought a marvelous deliverance forIsrael, with the few who were loyalto the king. But the religious service,performed in unbelief and in directopposition to the commandment ofGod, only served to weaken hishands, and to place him beyond thehelp that God was so willing togrant him.

There are many who are pursu-ing this very course today. Theyrefuse to believe and obey thecommandment of the Lord, and yetthey persevere in offering up to Godtheir formal services of religion; butthere is no response from the Spiritof God to such a service. There is noinward work upon the heart, noreformation in the life, no transfor-mation in the character. Outwardordinances must not be consideredof value, unless they are in accor-dance with the expressed will of

TheTestingofCharacter

TheTestingofCharacter


God. The Lord cannot manifest Hispower to deliver, no matter howzealous men may be in their obser-vance of religious ceremonies, if theypersist in willful disobedience to HisCommandments.

Those who are placed in posi-tions of trust, will be subjected todifferent tests, that their loyalty andtrustworthiness may be proved bytheir course of action. The test maybe a simple one, but it will besufficient to decide whether or notthe man’s spirit is under the controlof the Spirit of God. It will be mademanifest whether or not he willchoose to carry out his own will andhis own ideas, or the will of God asthe Supreme Guide of his actions.All our actions are weighed. Theirmoral worth is estimated. It isknown whether or not we are loyalto God, whether or not we areleading those connected with us tolove and fear God, or through thenatural defects of our characters,unaided by the grace of God, we areleading those who look to us for anexample into crooked paths, awayfrom the fear of God, away from thecounsel He gives through Hisappointed servants. If we areindifferent to the instruction giventhrough the agencies of God, ourhearts will become hardened, thelight ordained for our correction willappear as darkness, and we willbecome agents in leading others intounbelief and rebellion.

Adam was tested in a verysimple matter, but his failure toendure the test opened the flood-gates of woe upon our world, andwith every disobedience to God areinvolved consequences of fearfulimport and disaster. The action ofthe king before Israel lessened thesignificance of the sacrificial service,and robbed the priesthood of itssacredness before their eyes. If theking could, with unconsecratedhands, perform this holy rite, whycould not the people do the same? Ifhe thought best to perform thisservice, it must be the right thing todo, and they felt perfectly safe infollowing the example of one soexalted as the king. Those whooccupy positions of honor and

responsibility, should be exceedinglycareful to walk circumspectly andhumbly before the Lord, that theymay not become stumbling blocks tothose who are influenced by theirlife and example.

The greatest trials that havecome upon the church have beenbrought about through the agencyof those who were its professedfriends, and who had been placedin positions of trust and sacredresponsibility. Our most sanguineexpectations have been frequentlydisappointed. We have followedour best judgment in selecting menfor places of trust, and they havefailed time and again, when the

test was brought to bear on theircharacters. They have exhibitedweaknesses of which they gave noprevious indication. They are notwhat they appeared to be beforethey were placed in the position.How often have we finite beingsbeen led to repent that we haveused our influence toward promot-ing men who afterwards havegiven no evidence of their devotionto God’s Word and work.

We have often inquired, Whathas made this great change in thesemen? What was it that led Saul topresume upon his exaltation todishonor God by unbelief anddisobedience?—It was self-suffi-ciency and an evil heart of unbelief.It was when Saul was little in hisown sight that God chose him to beruler over Israel, but when he losthis spirit of simplicity and humility,he was not the man for the place,and his authority was taken fromhim. Those who turn from theirhumility and begin to exalt self, arefilled with the most unaccountableinfatuation and self-deception inregard to their own qualifications.Like Saul, they begin to assume

responsibilities that their position innowise warrants, and for whichGod has not ordained them.

When circumstances are soshaped that character is tested anddeveloped, you should seek ferventlyfor the help of God that you may bedelivered from evil. If you walkhumbly before God, you will notfollow your own will, but will havea teachable spirit, and will submit toinstruction and correction. If yousteadfastly adhere to the Word ofGod and follow in His way, youwill not imperil others nor in theleast degree seek to turn their mindsaway from the warnings, reproofs,and instructions which God sends

through His servants; but if you failto obey the Word of God, even in themost perplexing circumstances, youmake it manifest that you cannot betrusted in times of peril. Like Saul,you will follow your own judgment.You will not humble your soulbefore God, and make supplication,and lead those connected with youto look to God with all their heartsfor the help He has promised to givein times of need.

The Lord will work for thosewho put their trust in Him. Preciousvictories will be gained by thefaithful. Precious lessons will belearned. Precious experiences will berealized that will be of the greatestadvantage in times of trial andtemptation. Those who will give allthe glory to God, not taking credit tothemselves, will be trusted withmore and more of the blessing ofGod. The Lord will be magnified bythose who honor Him in the midstof the people. The trial that has beenborne with patience, the test that hasbeen met with faithfulness, willprove them worthy of responsibility,and God will make them agents tocarry out His will. They will be

The greatest trials that have come upon the church have

been brought about through the agency of those who

were its professed friends.


made stewards of His grace, ashonored servants of God.

The conflicts of earth, in theprovidence of God, furnish thevery training necessary to developcharacters fit for the courts ofHeaven. We are to become mem-bers of the royal family, the sons ofGod, and “all things work togetherfor good to them that love God”(Romans 8:28), and submit them-selves to His will. Our God is anever-present help in every time ofneed. He is perfectly acquaintedwith the most secret thoughts of ourheart, with all the intents andpurposes of our souls. When we arein perplexity, even before we open toHim our distress, He is makingarrangements for our deliverance.

Our sorrow is not unnoticed. Healways knows much better than wedo, just what is necessary for thegood of His children, and He leadsus as we would choose to be led ifwe could discern our own heartsand see our necessities and perils,as God sees them.

But finite beings seldom knowthemselves. They do not understandtheir own weaknesses, and whenreproof comes, and cautions aregiven, when they are rebuked, oreven advised, they think that theyare misjudged and unjustly treated.God knows them better than theyknow themselves, and He under-stands how to lead them. But whenHe undertakes to guide them inways which seem mysterious to

them, because of their blindnessand lack of faith, they rebel, andbring upon themselves unneces-sary grief and trouble. They haveprayed to the Lord for light andguidance, and the Lord answeredthem as He did Jacob, and, likeJacob, they do not discern that it isthe hand of the Lord leading themin a way contrary to their ownchoosing. If we will trust Him, andcommit our ways to Him, He willdirect our steps in the very paththat will result in our obtaining thevictory over every evil passion, andevery trait of character that isunlike the character of our divinePattern. !

Signs of the Times, May 25, 1888.

Project USA“The Law of God” ad project is going forward beyond our expectations. I believe God has poured out His

approval and blessings on this particular outreach project; and, we at Hope International are excited and overjoyedat the response! Now, three months since it began, we have received over 700 requests for the book Final Conflict,along with Bible studies; and the requests continue to come in daily.

We recently ran the ad in Miami, Florida. Praise the Lord, we had over 75 requests in about 10 days!As we were describing the responses to our ads in different areas of the U.S. during a recent meeting, one dear

brother who was listening joined in the excitement and pledged $10,000 toward this project.Brothers and Sisters, the funds are slowly coming in, but they should be coming in faster. The three angels’

messages are slowly covering America, and Christ’s righteousness is being reflected through His law. What anexciting time to be alive! Are you excited about what God can do through these Ten Commandment ads that arereaching millions? So far, we have reached about three million people, but we still have 304 million to go. All wecan do is sow the seed. Will you help Hope International accomplish this enormous task?

With our magazine Our Firm Foundation, we are nurturing and strengthening our Seventh-day Adventist brothers andsisters; however, we need to “Go forward” (see The Acts of the Apostles, 220) with our outreach program and reach thesemillions. The latter rain will soon fall, and what a joy it will be to meet those who were brought to salvation through thisoutreach effort. Please ask the Lord what He would have you lay on the altar, and join us.

“The Law of God” BrochureOur brochure on “The Law of God” is finally ready, and we are excited

about the final product!The cost to send this colorful tract out, including postage, will be about 20¢

each. This would go to every home in a given ZIP code area, which will be anexcellent tool to uplift the Law of God—perhaps even more effective than thenewspaper ads.

You may order the brochures to give out in person:

1-49 brochures: 20¢ eachPackets of 50: $5 per packet (10¢ each)Cases of 500: $40 per case (8¢ each)5000 or more: Please inquire.

If you need a free sample of this mailer, please contact us and we will be happy to send you one.

Catalog # TEHI-LOGO


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harles Wesley wrote thesong, “Jesus, Lover of MySoul,” in 1740. “Most

probably it was prompted by thedeep spiritual change that Wesleyhad undergone, a year or twoearlier. His brother, John, objectedto the word ‘lover’ as being toofamiliar for a human to apply toDivinity. As a result, it was ex-cluded from the Methodist hymnbooks before 1779, but not Angli-can.” 1

This particular hymn was EllenWhite’s favorite hymn,2 and of thetwo tunes offered in the old ChurchHymnal, the first, number 401, washer favorite tune. In her counsel to adepressed middle-aged woman,Ellen White related a dream that shehad experienced, “I was goingthrough a garden and you were bymy side. You kept saying, ‘Look atthis unsightly shrub, this deformedtree, that poor stunted rosebush.

This makes me feel bad, for theyseem to represent my life and therelation I stand in before God.’ ”

Ellen White continued, “Ithought a stately form walked justbefore us and said, ‘Gather the rosesand the lilies and the pinks, andleave the thistles and unsightlyshrubs, and bruise not the soul thatChrist has in His choice keeping.’ ”Mind, Character, and Personality, vol.2, 807.

Ellen White had this same dreamthree times in a row in one night.She counseled this woman quiteextensively concerning her negativeattitudes, ending with these words:“Read the following lines andappropriate the sentiment as yourown:

“Other refuge have I none,Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;

Leave, O leave me not alone!Still support and comfort me;

All my trust on Thee is stayed,All my help from Thee I bring;

Cover my defenseless headWith the shadow of Thy wing.

“Plenteous grace with Thee isfound—

Grace to pardon all my sin;Let the healing streams abound,

Make and keep me pure within;Thou of life the Fountain art,

Freely let me take of Thee;Spring Thou up within my heart,

Rise to all eternity.” Ibid., 810.

Of course, the above lines areverses two and four of the hymn,“Jesus, Lover of My Soul.” Asdemonstrated, lyrics can be veryimportant in spiritual as well as insecular music, either for the posi-tive—as in this hymn—or for thenegative.

However, the positive aspect ofgood lyrics can be overridden by the

C l a r k A . F l o y d


music attached to those lyrics.Improper musical elements found inrock music, “including ‘Christian’rock, are volume, repetition and beat.It is a music designed not to beheard, but to be felt, to be drownedin . . . stimulating people physicallyrather than elevating them spiritu-ally.” 3

In the same book just quoted, Dr.Bacchiocchi reports an experiencethat illustrates how the music canoverride the lyrics: “I was invited tospeak at a church where a rockband of four young men led out inthe singing. Something surprisinghappened when they led out in thesinging of ‘Amazing Grace.’ It wasnot long before the whole congrega-tion was in a swinging mood. Someeven stepped out of the pews andstarted dancing on the aisles. It wasevident that the way the band wasplaying the hymn with the typicalrock beat had caused the people toforget the words of the hymn, whichare not an invitation to dance but toreflect on the amazing grace of God‘that saved a wretch like me.’ ” 4

We are told to “be sober, bevigilant; because your adversary thedevil, as a roaring lion, walkethabout, seeking whom he maydevour.” 1 Peter 5:8. Satan knowsthe effects of music, for he “had ledthe heavenly choir.” The Spirit ofProphecy, vol. 1, 28.

Dear reader, your choice of themusic you listen to—whether inchurch, in your car, or in yourhome—can have a decided conse-quence upon your eternal salvation.If we do not take this matter seri-ously, we shall be deceived, for theBible says that if it were possible, thevery elect will be deceived. SeeMatthew 24:24.

“A genuine love for the truth anddiligence in obeying all the instruc-tions God has given for these lastdays will prove to be the onlyprotection against the delusions ofthe enemy, the seducing spirits, andthe doctrine of devils.” 5

Daniel mentions that on thePlain of Dura, “all kinds of musick”was used at two different times toencourage those gathered to worshipthe golden image. “The summons of

the Three Angels’ Messages to comeout of spiritual Babylon, by rejectingits false worship, could also wellinclude the rejection of the music ofBabylon. Soon the whole world willbe gathered for the final showdownin the antitypical, apocalyptic Plainof Dura and ‘all kinds of musick’will be played to lead the inhabit-ants of the earth to ‘worship thebeast and its image’(Revelation14:9).” 6

And note what is said in Revela-tion 18 in regard to this final fall ofspiritual Babylon: “And the voice ofharpers, and musicians, and ofpipers and trumpeters, shall beheard no more at all in thee.” Verse22. Music definitely plays animportant role in last-day events.

In speaking of the young peopleof her day, Ellen White said, “Theyhave a keen ear for music, and Satanknows what organs to excite toanimate, engross, and charm themind so that Christ is not desired.The spiritual longings of the soul fordivine knowledge, for a growth ingrace are wanting.

“I was shown that the youthmust take a higher stand and makethe Word of God the Man of theircounsel and their Guide. Solemnresponsibilities rest upon the young,which they lightly regard. Theintroduction of music into theirhomes, instead of inciting to holi-ness and spirituality, has been themeans of diverting their minds fromthe truth.” The Adventist Home, 407–408.

In another vision Sister Whitewas shown that “the things . . .described as taking place in Indiana. . . would take place just before theclose of probation. Every uncouththing will be demonstrated. Therewill be shouting, with drums, music,and dancing. The senses of rational

beings will become so confused thatthey cannot be trusted to make rightdecisions. And this is called themoving of the Holy Spirit.

“The Holy Spirit never revealsitself in such methods, in such abedlam of noise. This is an inven-tion of Satan to cover up his inge-nious methods for making of noneeffect the pure, sincere, elevating,ennobling, sanctifying truth for thistime. Better never have the worshipof God blended with music than touse musical instruments to do thework which last January wasrepresented to me would be broughtinto our camp meetings. The truthfor this time needs nothing of thiskind in its work of converting souls.A bedlam of noise shocks the senses

and perverts that which if con-ducted aright might be a blessing.The powers of satanic agenciesblend with the din and noise, tohave a carnival, and this is termedthe Holy Spirit’s working. . . . Noencouragement should be given tothis kind of worship.” SelectedMessages, book 2, 36–37.

“Music was made to serve a holypurpose, to lift the thoughts to thatwhich is pure, noble, and elevating,and to awaken in the soul devotionand gratitude to God. What acontrast between the ancient customand the uses to which music is nowtoo often devoted! How manyemploy this gift to exalt self, insteadof using it to glorify God! A love formusic leads the unwary to unitewith world lovers in pleasuregatherings where God has forbiddenHis children to go. Thus that whichis a great blessing when rightlyused, becomes one of the mostsuccessful agencies by which Satanallures the mind from duty and fromthe contemplation of eternal things.”Patriarchs and Prophets, 594.

Your choice of the music you listen to—whether in

church, in your car, or in your home—can have a

decided consequence upon your eternal salvation.


“It was a Sabbath afternoon in1915 at Ellen White’s Elmshavenhome in northern California. Severalweeks earlier on February 13, Mrs.White had broken her hip. Fromthen on she was confined to bed orto a wheelchair. She was now pasther 87th birthday. For more than 70years she had been used by God tobring messages of hope and encour-agement as well as correction andreproof.

“On this particular Sabbath notlong before her death, Ellen Whitelistened in silence as her family andsome friends sang around herbedside. Someone began to sing,‘There’s a land that is fairer thanday. . . .’ As the others picked up thewords, they noticed that Mrs. Whitewas also trying to join them. In herweak, trembling voice they heard hersing in little more than a whisper,‘We shall sing on that beautifulshore the melodious songs of theblest, and our spirits shall sorrowno more, not a sigh for the blessingof rest.’

The 1972 Autumn Council of theGeneral Conference of Seventh-dayAdventists (held October 14–19 inMexico City), voted guidelines for aSeventh-day Adventist Philosophyof Music. In those guidelines, theylisted the following principles toguide us in our selection of musicfor the church.

“The music should:“1. Bring glory to God and assist

us in acceptably worshiping Him(see 1 Corinthians 10:31).

“2. Ennoble, uplift, and purifythe Christian’s thoughts (seePhilippians 4:8; Patriarchs andProphets, p. 594).

“3. Effectively influence theChristian in the development ofChrist’s character in his life and inthat of others (see Manuscript 57,1906).

“4. Have a text which is inharmony with the scriptural teach-ings of the Church (see Review andHerald, June 6, 1912).

“5. Reveal a compatibilitybetween the message conveyed bythe words and the music, avoiding amixture of the sacred and theprofane.

“6. Shun theatricality andprideful display (see Evangelism, p.137; Review and Herald, November30, 1900).

“7. Give precedence to themessage of the text, which shouldnot be overpowered by accompany-ing musical elements (see GospelWorkers, pp. 357–358).

“8. Maintain a judicious balanceof the emotional, intellectual, andspiritual elements (see Review andHerald, November 14, 1899).

“9. Never compromise highprinciples of dignity and excellencein efforts to reach people just wherethey are (see Testimonies, vol. 9, p.143; Evangelism, pp. 137–138).

“10. Be appropriate for theoccasion, the setting, and theaudience for which it is intended(see ibid., pp. 507–508).”

The full text of these guidelineswas printed in the September 2000issue of Our Firm Foundation, 20-23.

“To those present it almost seemedthat in anticipation Ellen White wasalready singing with the angel choir.A few days later she spoke her lastwords to her son, W.C. White, ‘I knowin whom I have believed.’ ” 7

Dear reader, what a blessingmusic can be when used properly!“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,neither have entered into the heart ofman, the things which God hathprepared for them that love him.”1 Corinthians 2:9. You will not wantto miss heaven because of themisuse of music. “Whatsoever ye do,do all to the glory of God.”1 Corinthians 10:31. !

References:1 Companion to the SDA Hymnal, 477.2 Ellen G. White Estate, Legacy of Light, un-

der this hymn title.3 The Christian and Rock Music, edited by

Samuele Bacchiocchi, 15.4 Ibid., 15–16.5 Editors, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible

Commentary, vol. 5, 501; see also Testimo-nies, vol. 6, 401; Testimonies, vol. 8, 298;Testimonies to Ministers, 475.

6 Bacchiocchi, ibid., 169.7 Legacy of Light, under “There’s a Land that

Is Fairer than Day.”

In the year 2001, Hope International received $8,800 from our faithfuldonors to subsidize the cost of free Our Firm Foundation subscriptions tothose individuals who request it. Praise the Lord for your generosity!

Unfortunately, the cost to send out free magazines far and awayexceeds the amount of the donations we receive for that purpose.

We receive frequent requests from Africa and other poverty-strickenparts of the world, and we are continuing to support our brethrenoverseas with free subscriptions while we search out and implement themost economical means to deliver the magazines to them. We alsoreceive occasional requests from those in the United States who have avery limited income.

However, we have had to reevaluate our policy of providing freesubscriptions within the United States, due to increasing needs foroutreach and because of our need to continue to control our budget.During the next three months we have requested those who are receivinga free subscription in the United States to either (1) do everythingpossible to pay at least part of the subscription cost, if not the fullamount, or else (2) let us know if they cannot pay but would appreciatecontinuing to receive the magazine.

In many cases these readers have shared with us that Our FirmFoundation is their only spiritual food. How can we deny these requests?Please help us make Our Firm Foundation available to everyone whosincerely reads and appreciates it. Send your monthly contributionmarked “Subscription Assistance.”

We Need Your Help!

31Volume 17, Number 4 31Volume 17, Number 4

letters to the editorHave a letter to share?contact [email protected] or see page 3 for our mailing address.

Your publication has helped us tre-mendously. Our walk with the Lord isnow becoming very personal, and we areleaving the trappings of “churchianity,”and are awakening to our true condi-tion! May God prosper your ministry!

RG, Tennessee

Hello at Hope! You know, withwhat is going on around us in Advent-ism, in and out of the sister churches ofthe GC of SDA, with the latest reportconcerning Hope, et’al, I found that theproblems it presented were nothingcompared to what I’ve been runninginto more and more. While the GCseems to be dealing more with Admin-istrative things, such as, who oneshould pay their tithe to; who can beordained, and by whom; and, who canbaptize; I’ve been dealing with peoplewho want to return to the former semi-Arian position of Adventism, or whowant to make feast days a test, or tobash SDAs for giving any notice toChristmas. Yet, I find no mention of thisin the ongoing “debate.” It’s as if thesepeople are sneaking into the side doorof the church to spread their heresy andare remaining unnoticed. The damageto the church has got to be significant.My question is, Why is this so? Whyhas it seemed that you have beensingled out, while we hear nothingabout all these others? The GC dealswith the mild issues while the hot is-sues go unnoticed.

It’s with all this in mind that I justwanted to drop a note to all of you atHope to let you know that you’re doinga great job. I appreciate reading yourmagazine when I get it, and I have agoodly sum of reading material pub-lished by you that has added greatly tomy understanding. God bless you.

KW, Arizona

I look forward to your monthlytapes. Wish they were 2 hours long!

I was so happy to be at your campmeeting in Angwin. I missed out onseeing Ron Spear and Bill Hughes.However, Bill Humeniuk and JesseRamirez were so kind to me and gavewonderful messages. Thanks again!

Hope all is going well with the OurFirm Foundation staff. Blessings to all.

VK, California

From Overseas

Kindly please send to me Seventh-day Adventist Christian literature ofany sort. The burden of evangelisticzeal weighs heavily upon my soul. Iwould use it through sharing it withthose around me who are perishing.

ZM, Zimbabwe

I would like to express my deepestand heartfelt condolences to you andall the American community for thehorrendous terrorist attack thatcaused mass death of fellow citizens.

I am glad to express my heartfeltthanks and appreciation for the par-cel, which you mailed to me, contain-ing Bibles, booklets, and some very in-spiring magazines. By sending thisgift, you have helped not just me, butmany thirsty and hungry souls who Iam shepherding. I heartily appreciateall the help and support you are ac-cording me as I engage in this home-to-home gospel evangelism.

There is still a lot of spiritual workthat needs to be done here. And this canbest be accomplished through spiritualbooks and literature. So now, I am hum-bly requesting more copies of the Bible,Spirit of Prophecy books, Our Firm Foun-dation magazines, and any other spirit-ual literature that you can send to keepadvancing the gospel work here.

Please keep helping me to reachmany more souls that are still languish-ing in Satan’s bondage and to drawthem to Jesus for salvation. We ought todevote ourselves wholly to the Lord soHe can use us to reach many with thegreat good news (the gospel)! Time forour Lord’s Second Advent is very close.May God help us to remain faithful aswe take His Word to the world.

CN, Kenya

As a young Adventist of twenty-one years of age, I have now enteredmy senior secondary school. I have topreach to my friends and people whoare in need so that when God comes

the second time we can be saved fromour sins. The God of the Seventh-dayAdventist Church has helped bring18 people to the church and 12 peoplehave been baptized.

I am facing some troubles in myfamily. My parents are not Adventists.They go to the Roman Catholicchurch. So, when I am going to schoolthey refuse to give me money to buyeven a pen to write in the school. Soplease, when you are praying, prayfor me and my family.

Please send me some Bibles andbooks for my people that I brought tothe church, because they have notmoney to buy Bibles. Also, pleasesend some other publications that willbe helpful. Once again I ask, pleaseremember me, my parents and thepeople whom God helped me to bringto the church that they stand firm forthe second coming of Jesus Christ, theLamb of God Who takes the sin of theworld away.

I will continue to pray for your pub-lications to assist many people to seelight and the path of Jesus. May Godcontinue to bless you and your workers.

EB, Ghana

Thank you for your love and carefor our evangelistic work here in In-dia, which you have shown by send-ing a bag of educational materials.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,the love of God, and the fellowship ofthe Holy Spirit be with you all.

BM, India

We receive many requests for lit-erature from Africa and other impov-erished parts of the world. If only halfof what these letters describe is true,there is an almost limitless need fortruthfilled literature in most of thesecountries. Each piece of literature wesend is often read by several people.We try to help as many as we can;however, our limited finances keep usfrom responding to many of the pleasfor help. If you are impressed to helpsend free literature, please mark yourdonation “Literature Assistance.”

—The Editors

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This is a complete guide to one of the world’s fastest-growing nutritionand health movements—the living foods diet. Learn how fresh, non-cookedfruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains can boost your vitality withoutmaking any sacrifices to your palate.

Try exotic dishes like Chili Rellenos, Spinach Mousse and Vegetable NoriRoll-Ups. Or, on a more familiar note, serve up a living foods version of oldfavorites like pizza, paté and soup. Whatever you choose, this book willbring a rich variety of flavors and textures to your table and offer everythingyour body needs to stay healthy and vigorous.

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Meatless BurgersHagler, Louise

Meatless Burgers contains the answer to the health concerns associated withtraditional burgers. Serving up delicious burgers without meat is easy and offers awide variety of flavors and textures from which to choose. Hundreds of differentbeans, grains, and vegetables can be combined to make tender, juicy, tasty, andsatisfying burgers that are low in fat and high in fiber. There are combinations tosuit every taste. Some of these recipes go beyond attempting to taste and look liketraditional burgers, into realms of exciting new combinations of ingredients to addvariety and interest to your everyday meals.

Paperback, 91 pages, 1999Price: $9.95Catalog # BEHL-MBUR

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