ATTN: SDAs...A Must Know and Understand for All our People in these Last Days... ARE GODS PEOPLE TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND PROPHECY FOR THESE LAST DAYS? IF SO, HOW DO WE KNOW IF WE ARE BEING TAUGHT TRUE OR FALSE PROPHECY? WHICH PROPHECY/IES HAVE WE BEEN COUNSELED THAT WE MUST KNOW & UNDERSTAND? Ezekiel 37:1-11 • Prophecy wakes up the Dead, dry bones • The bones represent the House of God • Death is represented by a “sleep” • It’s prophecy(true not false) that is going to wake up the sleeping Virgins ...Men may get up scheme after scheme, and the enemy will seek to seduce souls from the truth, but all who believe that the Lord has spoken through Sister White, and has given her a message, will be safe from the many delusions that will come in in these last days.”{8MR 320.2} “…The Lord desires that every soul who claims to believe the truth shall have an intelligent knowledge of what is truth. False prophets will arise and will deceive many…Then does it not become every one to understand the reasons of our faith?...”{9MR 359.1} MANY WILL STAND IN OUR PULPITS WITH THE TORCH OF FALSE PROPHECY ...Many will stand in our pulpits with the torch of false prophecy in their hands, kindled from the hellish torch of Satan...(TM 409-410) WHO WAS TRUE PROPHECY GIVEN TO IN THE BEGINNING OF OUR WORK? God sent His angel to move upon the heart of a farmer who had not believed the Bible, to lead him to search the prophecies. Angels of God repeatedly visited that chosen one, to guide his mind and open to his understanding prophecies which had ever been dark to Gods people. THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE CHAIN OF TRUTH WAS GIVEN TO HIM, and he was led on to search for link after link, until he looked with wonder and admiration upon the Word of God. He saw there a perfect chain of truth...” {EW 229.1} When the power of God testifies as to what is truth, that truth is to stand forever as the truth. No after suppositions contrary to the light God has given are to be entertained. Men will arise with interpretations of Scripture which are to them truth, but which are not truth. The truth for this time God has given us as a foundation for our faith. He Himself has taught us what is truth. One will arise, and still another, with new light, which contradicts the light that God has given under the demonstration of His Holy Spirit. A few are still alive who passed through the experience gained in the establishment of this truth. God has graciously spared their lives to repeat, and repeat till the close of their lives, the experience through which they passed even as did John the apostle till the very close of his life. And the standard bearers who have fallen in death are to speak through the reprinting of their writings. I am instructed that thus their voices are to be heard. They are to bear their testimony as to what constitutes the truth for this time.”(1SM 161.1} SATAN TO ATTACK THE TRUTHS GIVEN US AT THE BEGINNING: “ The very same Satan is at work to undermine the faith of the people of God at this time. There are persons ready to catch up every new idea. The prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation are misinterpreted. These persons do not consider that the truth has been set forth at the appointed time by the very men whom God was leading to do this special work. These men followed on step by step in the very fulfillment of prophecy, and those who have not had a personal experience in this work, are to take the Word of God and believe on their word who have been led by the Lord in the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels messages. These messages, received and acted upon, are doing their work to prepare a people to stand in the great day of God. If we search the Scriptures to confirm the truth God has given His servants for the world, we shall be found proclaiming the first, second, and third angels messages. {2SM 111.2} “The enemy is seeking to divert the minds of our brethren and sisters from the work of preparing a people to stand in these last days. His sophistries are designed to lead minds away from the perils and duties of the hour. They estimate as of little value the light that Christ came from heaven to give to John for His people. They teach that the scenes just before us are not of sufficient importance to receive special attention. They make of no effect the truth of heavenly origin, and rob the people of God of their past experience, giving them instead a false science. Thus saith the Lord: Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein. [Jeremiah 6:16.] {GW 306.2} “The record of the experience through which the people of God passed in the early history of our work must be republished. Many of those who have since come into the truth are ignorant of the way in which the Lord wrought. The experience of William Miller and his associates, of Captain Joseph Bates, and of other pioneers in the advent message, should be kept before our people. Elder Loughboroughs book should receive attention. Our leading men should see what can be done for the circulation of this book. “(CW 145.2) “Give to the world the message the Lord has given you. Remove not a pin or a pillar from the foundation of our faith. Preach the truth as it has been given by the Lord.” (1MR 56.1)1904 WHY PREACH THE TRUTH AS GIVEN BY THE LORD? “…Preach the truth as it has been given by the Lord. This truth is powerful in the conviction of sinners.”{14MR 311.1} The Keepers of God’s Truths Have Lost Their Bearings ...The people to whom God has entrusted eternal interests, the depositaries of truth pregnant with eternal results, the keepers of light that is to illuminate the whole world, have lost their bearings...(TM 397.1) What Prevents us from Losing our Bearings? The old waymarks must be preserved, that we lose not our bearings. Letter 395, 1906, p. 4. (To Elder S. M. Cobb, December 25, 1906.) {1MR 55.3} What Will Help Us Get our Bearings Back? All the messages given from 1840-1844 are to be made forcible now, for there are many people who have lost their bearings. The messages are to go to all the churches. {21MR 437.1} 1906 The prophecy of the first angels message, brought to view in Revelation 14, found its fulfillment in the Advent movement of 1840-1844. In both Europe and America, men of faith and prayer were deeply moved as their attention was called to the prophecies, and, tracing down the inspired record, they saw convincing evidence that the end of all things was at hand. The Spirit of God urged his servants, to give the warning. Far and wide spread the message of the everlasting gospel, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his Judgment is come. [Revelation 14:7.] {4SP 222.1} To Wm. Miller and his co-laborers it was given to preach the message in America, and the light kindled by their labors shone out to distant lands…”(4SP 222.3) The Three Angels Messages.--The proclamation of the first, second, and third angels messages has been located by the word of Inspiration. Not a peg or pin is to be removed. No human authority has any more right to change the location of these messages than to substitute the New Testament for the Old. The Old Testament is the gospel in figures and symbols. The New Testament is the substance. One is as essential as the other. The Old Testament presents lessons from the lips of Christ, and these lessons have not lost their force in any particular. The first and second messages were given in 1843 and 1844, and we are now under the proclamation of the third; but all three of the messages are still to be proclaimed. It is just as essential now as ever before that 27 they shall be repeated to those who are seeking for the truth. By pen and voice we are to sound the proclamation, showing their order, and the application of the prophecies that bring us to the third angels message. There cannot be a third without the first and second. These messages we are to give to the world in publications, in discourses, showing in the line of prophetic history the things that have been, and the things that will be.--Manuscript 32, 1896. {CW 26.2} Moving a Block or Stirring a Pin.--I saw a company who stood well guarded and firm, giving no countenance to those who would unsettle the established faith of the body. God looked upon them with approbation. I was shown three steps,--the first, second, and third angels messages. Said my accompanying angel, Woe to him who shall move a block or stir a pin of these messages. The true understanding of these messages is of vital importance. The destiny of souls hangs upon the manner in which they are received…”(1858.) {CW 53.1} “The record of the experience through which the people of God passed in the early history of our work must be republished. Many of those who have since come into the truth are ignorant of the way in which the Lord wrought. The experience of William Miller and his associates, of Captain Joseph Bates, and of other pioneers in the advent message, should be kept before our people. Elder Loughboroughs book should receive attention. Our leading men should see what can be done for the circulation of this book. “(CW 145.2) “I am in great travail of soul for our people. We are living in the perils of the last days. A superficial faith results in a superficial experience…All should see the necessity of understanding the truth for themselves individually. We must understand the doctrines that have been studied out carefully and prayerfully. It has been revealed to me that there is among our people a great lack of knowledge in regard to the rise and progress of the third angels message…”{2SM 392.1}(See 1888 716.3) HOW TO STUDY THE CORRECT WAY: Those who are engaged in proclaiming the third angels message are searching the Scriptures upon the same plan that Father Miller adopted. In the little book entitled Views of the Prophecies and Prophetic Chronology, Father Miller gives the following simple but intelligent and important rules for Bible study and interpretation:-- {RH, November 25, 1884 par. 23} 1. Every word must have its proper bearing on the subject presented in the Bible; 2. All Scripture is necessary, and may be understood by diligent application and study; 3. Nothing revealed in Scripture can or will be hid from those who ask in faith, not wavering; 4. To understand doctrine, bring all the scriptures together on the subject you wish to know, then let every word have its proper influence; and if you can form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be in error; 5. Scripture must be its own expositor, since it is a rule of itself. If I depend on a teacher to expound to me, and he should guess at its meaning, or desire to have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or to be thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed, or wisdom is my rule, and not the Bible. {RH, November 25, 1884 par. 24} The above is a portion of these rules; and in our study of the Bible we shall all do well to heed the principles set forth. {RH, November 25, 1884 par. 25} RULES OF INTERPRETATION (from the book ‘Views of the Prophecies and Prophetic Chronology’ that Sister White says we should read these rules from) MILLER SAYS: IN studying the Bible, I have found the following rules to be of great service to myself, and now give them to the public by special request. Every rule should be well studied, in connexion with the scripture references, if the Bible student would be at all benefited by them. {1842 WiM, MWV1 20.1} RULE I Every word must have its proper bearing on the subject presented in the Bible. {1842 WiM, MWV1 20.2} PROOF Matt.v.18. {1842 WiM, MWV1 20.3} RULE II All scripture is necessary, and may be understood by a diligent application and study. {1842 WiM, MWV1 20.4} PROOF 2Tim.iii.15,16,17. {1842 WiM, MWV1 20.5} RULE III Nothing revealed in the scripture can or will be hid from those who ask in faith, not wavering. {1842 WiM, MWV1 20.6} PROOF Deut.xxix.29. Matt.x.26,27. 1Cor.ii.10. Phil.iii.15. Isa.xiv.11. Matt.xxi.22. John xiv.13,14. xv.7. James i.5,6. 1John v.13,14,15. {1842 WiM, MWV1 20.7} RULE IV To understand doctrine, bring all the scriptures together on the subject you wish to know; then let every word have its proper influence, and if you can form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be in an error. {1842 WiM, MWV1 20.8} PROOF Isa.xxviii.7-29. xxxv.8. Prov.xix.27. Luke xxiv.27,44,45. Rom.xvi.26. James v.19. 2Pet.i.19,29. {1842 WiM, MWV1 20.9} RULE V Scripture must be its own expositor, since it is a rule of itself. If I depend on a teacher to expound it to me, and he should guess at its meaning, or desire to have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or to be {1842 WiM, MWV1 20.10} PROOFS Ps.xix.7,8,9,10,11. cxix.97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105. Matt.xxiii.8,9,10. 1Cor.ii.12,13,14,15,16. Eze.xxxiv.18,19. Luke xi.52. Mal.ii.7,8. {1842 WiM, MWV1 20.11} RULE V (Continued) thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed or wisdom is my rule, not the Bible. {1842 WiM, MWV1 21.1} RULE VI God has revealed things to come, by visions, in figures and parables, and in this way the same things are oftentime revealed again and again, by different visions, or in different figures, and parables. If you wish to understand them, you must combine them all in one. {1842 WiM, MWV1 21.2} PROOFS Ps.lxxxix.19. Hos.xii.10. Hab.ii.2. Acts ii.17. 1Cor.x.6. Heb.ix.9,24. Ps.lxxviii.2. Matt.xiii.13,34. Gen.xli.1-32. Dan.ii. vii. and viii. Acts x.9-16. {1842 WiM, MWV1 21.3} RULE VII. Visions are always mentioned as such PROOFS 2Cor.xii.1 RULE VIII Figures always have a figurative meaning, and are used much in prophecy, to represent future things, times and events; such as mountains, meaning governments; beasts, meaning kingdoms. {1842 WiM, MWV1 21.4} Waters, meaning people. Lamp, meaning Word of God. Day, meaning year. {1842 WiM, MWV1 21.5} PROOFS Dan.ii.35,44. vii.8,17. Rev.xvii.1,15. Ps.cxix.105. Ezek.iv.6. {1842 WiM, MWV1 21.6} RULE IX Parables are used as comparisons to illustrate subjects, and must be explained in the same way as figures by the subject and Bible. Mark iv.13. See explanation of the ten virgins, Millers Lectures, No.xvi. {1842 WiM, MWV1 21.7} RULE X Figures sometimes have two or more different significations, as day is used in a figurative sense to represent three different periods of time. {1842 WiM, MWV1 21.8} PROOFS Ecc.vii.14. {1842 WiM, MWV1 21.9} RULE X. (Continued). 1. Indefinite. 2. Definite, a day for a year. 3. Day for a thousand years If you put on the right construction it will harmonize with the Bible and make good sense, otherwise it will not. {1842 WiM, MWV1 22.1} PROOFS Ezek.iv.6. 2Pet.iii.8. {1842 WiM, MWV1 22.2} RULE XI How to know when a word is used figuratively. If it makes good sense as it stands, and does no violence to the simple laws of nature, then it must be understood literally, if not, figuratively. {1842 WiM, MWV1 22.3} PROOFS Rev.xii.1,2. xvii.3-7. {1842 WiM, MWV1 22.4} RULE XII To learn the true meaning of figures, trace your figurative word through your Bible, and where you find it explained, put it on your figure, and if it makes good sense you need look no further, if not, look again. {1842 WiM, MWV1 22.5} RULE XIII To know whether we have the true historical event for the fulfilment of a prophecy. If you find every word of the prophecy (after the figures are understood) is literally fulfilled, then you may know that your history is the true event. But if one word lacks a fulfilment, then you must look for another event, or wait its future development. For God takes care that history and prophecy doth agree, so that the true believing children of God may never be ashamed. {1842 WiM, MWV1 22.6} PROOFS Ps.xxii.5. Isa.xlv.17,18,19. 1Pet.ii.6. Rev.xvii.17. Acts iii.18. {1842 WiM, MWV1 22.7} RULE XIV The most important rule of all is, that you must have faith. It must be a faith that requires a sacrifice, and, if tried, would give up the dearest object on earth, the world and all its desires, character, living, occupation, friends, home, comforts, and worldly honors. If any of these should hinder our believing any part of Gods word, it would show our faith to be vain. Nor can we ever believe so long as one of these motives lies lurking in our hearts. We must believe that God will never forfeit his word. And we can have confidence that he that takes notice of the sparrow, and numbers the hairs of our head, will guard the translation of his own word, and throw a barrier around it, and prevent those who sincerely trust in God, and put implicit confidence in his word, from erring far from the truth, though they may not understand Hebrew or Greek. {1842 WiM, MWV1 22.8} These are some of the most important rules which I find the word of God warrants me to adopt and follow, in order for system and regularity. And if I am not greatly deceived, in so doing, I have found the Bible, as a whole, one of the most simple, plain, and intelligible books ever written, containing proof in itself of its divine origin, and full of all knowledge that our hearts could wish to know or enjoy. I have found it a treasure which the world cannot purchase. It gives a calm peace in believing, and a firm hope in the future. It sustains the mind in adversity, and teaches us to be humble in prosperity. It prepares us to love and do good to others, and to realize the value of the soul…”{1842 WiM, MWV1 23.1} REGARDING THE HEBREW & GREEK: I am sick of this continual harping upon words. Our learned critics are worse on the waters of truth than a school of sharks on the fishing-banks of the north, and they have made more infidels in our world than all the heathen mythology in existence. What word in revelation has not been turned, twisted, racked, wrested, distorted, demolished, and annihilated by these voracious harpies in human shape, until the public have become so bewildered they know not what to believe? They have fouled the waters with their feet. I have always noticed where they tread the religious spirit is at a low ebb; it becomes cold, formal, and doubtful, at least. It is the mind of the Spirit we want, and Gods word then becomes spirit and life unto us… I had rather have one humble prayer of this kind, with an English Bible in my hand, than all the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin Bro. S. ever knew. The child then takes the word…compares spiritual things with spiritual, to find what his heavenly Father means by days in a figurative sense. The first text he lights upon is in Num.14:34, each day for a year. {1853 SB, MWM 207.3/208.2/208.3) HOW MILLER STUDIED: During the 12 years I was a deist, I read all the histories I could find; but now I loved the Bible. It taught of Jesus! But still there was a good deal of the Bible that was dark to me. In 1818 or 19, while conversing with a friend to whom I made a visit, and who had known me and had heard me talk while I was a deist, he inquired in rather a significant manner, What do you think of this text, and that, referring to the old texts I objected to while a deist. I understood what he was about, and replied,--If you will give me time I will tell you what they mean. How long time do you want? I dont know, but I will tell you, I replied, for I could not believe that God had given a revelation that could not be understood. I then resolved to study my Bible, believing I could find out what the Holy Spirit meant. But as soon as I had formed this resolution the thought came to me, Suppose you find a passage that you cannot understand, what will you do? This mode of studying the Bible then came to my mind.--I will take the words of such passages and trace them through the Bible, and find out their meaning in this way. I had Crudens Concordance(this does not contain Hebrews or Greek), which I think is the best in the world, so I took that and my Bible, and set down to my desk, and read nothing else except the newspapers a little, for I was determined to know what my Bible meant. I began at Genesis and read on slowly; and when I came to a text that I could not understand, I searched through the Bible to find out what it meant. After I had gone through the Bible in this way, O, how bright and glorious the truth appeared. I found what I have been preaching to you... {November 16, 1842 JVHe, HST 66.10} “…We have nothing to fear for the future except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history.”{TM 31.1} WHAT SHOULD WE STUDY TO LEARN OUR HISTORY? “The record of the experience through which the people of God passed in the early history of our work must be republished. Many of those who have since come into the truth are ignorant of the way in which the Lord wrought. The experience of William Miller and his associates, of Captain Joseph Bates, and of other pioneers in the advent message, should be kept before our people. Elder Loughboroughs book should receive attention. Our leading men should see what can be done for the circulation of this book.{CW 145.2} ELDER LOUGHBOROUGH, and NOT URIAH SMITH ARE ONE OF THE MAIN MEN TO TEACH US ABOUT THE RISE & PROGRESS OF THE THIRD ANGEL’S MESSAGE Responsibilities are borne by men who have had no living experience in the rise and progress of the work. Brother Amadon and Elder Smith have had this experience, but Elder Smith is ensnared by the enemy and cannot in his present state give the trumpet a certain sound. Elder Butler is in the same condition. They are both unable to help just where the help is needed. They have by their course made of none effect, with a large number of others, the messages of communication which the Lord has been giving his people the last forty-five years. The displeasure of God is upon them both, yet Elder Smith is placed in positions as teacher to mold and fashion the minds of students when it is a well known fact that he is not standing in the light; he is not working in Gods order. He is sowing seeds of unbelief that spring up and bear fruit for some souls to harvest. {1888 714.2} I know of not one man who has length of experience from the rise of the message to make his voice heard or influence to tell on the cause of God at this time. With the exception of Brother Lunt nearly all are sleeping in their graves. Those who are living, who have had an experience in the work which the Lord has been pleased to give me are Elder Smith, Brother Amadon, and Elder Loughborough. Elder Smith will not receive the light God has given to correct him; he has not a spirit to correct by confession any wrong course he has pursued in the past and thus put up the bars behind him which leads into dangerous paths. {1888 714.3} I hear everywhere I go objections to the testimonies, quoting Elders Smith and Butler. They do not believe the testimonies; they do not accept that which Sister White has had in reproof of their course. Are not these good men? Have they not stood high in the work and cause of God? Then the seed of doubt and unbelief is sown in minds by those who have been themselves reproved. These men are and have been for years counteracting the work the Lord would have done to keep clear eyesight in the church and purge them from wrongs. {1888 715.1} There are great responsibilities placed on unconsecrated, inexperienced men, in our councils, in interest connected with the great heart of the work, their decisions are not all sound, healthy, and consistent. A class have the molding and fashioning that know nothing of my work from the rise of the message. If Elder Smith stood where God would have him, if he had stood in the clear light from years back, his influence would be a power for good. But blindness is upon him and he senses it not. I have been shown that as he now stands Satan has prepared his temptations to close about his soul, that if he is not rescued the banner of truth will not be held aloft by him. Other hands will carry forward the sacred work to its close. Elder Butler will be left in the same position. This was shown me clearly in years past. They are unfaithful…”{1888 715.2} There are those who are officiating in the great work who are not walking in the light; some are fashioned and molded in their experience by these men who ought to guide them and stand as faithful watchmen to give the trumpet a certain sound, but have been, in place of doing this, confusing minds and quenching the faith of Gods people in the messages He has sent to them in reproof and warnings. The testimonies of His Spirit that would correct the erring are treated by them in such a manner as to leave many minds shrouded in uncertainty in regard to their true origin, and the voice of God is disregarded just as Satan wanted it should be. {1888 716.1} Now I come to the point. Elder Loughborough has stood firmly for the testimonies…”{1888 716.2} The influence of Elder Loughborough is valuable in our churches. Just such a man is needed, one who has stood unwaveringly for the light that God has given to His people, while many have been changing their attitude toward this work of God. I say let Elder Loughborough do a work that is suffering to be done in the churches. The Lord would have his voice heard as was Johns, telling the things he has seen, and that which he has heard, which he himself has experienced in the rise and progress of the third angels message.”{1888 716.3} 1890 WHAT TO TEACH OUR PEOPLE: • The Experience of Wm Miller • The Experience of Miller’s Associates (who were they and how did they contribute to the message) • All the Messages given from 1840-1844 • The Experiences of Joseph Bates • Our Early Advent History taught in Loughborough’s book Ev 363.2 1SM 392.1 WHAT EVERYONE’S ATTITUDE SHOULD BE IN REGARDS TO LEARNING THESE THINGS: Nothing frightens me more than to see the spirit of variance manifested by our brethren. We are on dangerous ground when we cannot meet together like Christians, and courteously examine controverted points. I feel like fleeing from the place lest I receive the mold of those who cannot candidly investigate the doctrines of the Bible. {1SM 411.1} Those who cannot impartially examine the evidences of a position that differs from theirs, are not fit to teach in any department of Gods cause. What we need is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Without this, we are no more fitted to go forth to the world than were the disciples after the crucifixion of their Lord. How Shall We Search the Scriptures? [GOSPEL WORKERS, 1893 EDITION, PAGES 125-131.] How shall we search the Scriptures in order to understand what they teach? We should come to the investigation of Gods word with a contrite heart, a teachable and prayerful spirit. We are not to think, as did the Jews, that our own ideas and opinions are infallible; nor with the papists, that certain individuals are the sole guardians of truth and knowledge, that men have no right to search the Scriptures for themselves, but must accept the explanations given by the fathers of the church. We should not study the Bible for the purpose of sustaining our preconceived opinions, but with the single object of learning what God has said. {TM 105.1} Some have feared that if in even a single point they acknowledge themselves in error, other minds would be led to doubt the whole theory of truth. Therefore they have felt that investigation should not be permitted, that it would tend to dissension and disunion. But if such is to be the result of investigation, the sooner it comes the better. If there are those whose faith in Gods word will not stand the test of an investigation of the Scriptures, the sooner they are revealed the better; for then the way will be opened to show them their error. We cannot hold that a position once taken, an idea once advocated, is not, under any circumstances, to be relinquished. There is but One who is infallible--He who is the way, the truth, and the life. {TM 105.2} Those who allow prejudice to bar the mind against the reception of truth cannot receive the divine enlightenment. Yet, when a view of Scripture is presented, 106 many do not ask, Is it true--in harmony with Gods word? but, By whom is it advocated? and unless it comes through the very channel that pleases them, they do not accept it. So thoroughly satisfied are they with their own ideas that they will not examine the Scripture evidence with a desire to learn, but refuse to be interested, merely because of their prejudices. {TM 105.3} The Lord often works where we least expect Him; He surprises us by revealing His power through instruments of His own choice, while He passes by the men to whom we have looked as those through whom light should come. God desires us to receive the truth upon its own merits--because it is truth. {TM 106.1} The Bible must not be interpreted to suit the ideas of men, however long they may have held these ideas to be true. We are not to accept the opinion of commentators as the voice of God; they were erring mortals like ourselves. God has given reasoning powers to us as well as to them. We should make the Bible its own expositor. {TM 106.2} Carefulness in Presenting New Views All should be careful about presenting new views of Scripture before they have given these points thorough study, and are fully prepared to sustain them from the Bible. Introduce nothing that will cause dissension, without clear evidence that in it God is giving a special message for this time. {TM 106.3} But beware of rejecting that which is truth. The great danger with our people has been that of depending upon men and making flesh their arm. Those who have not been in the habit of searching the Bible for themselves, or weighing evidence, have confidence in the leading men and accept the decisions they make; and thus many 107 will reject the very messages God sends to His people, if these leading brethren do not accept them. {TM 106.4} No one should claim that he has all the light there is for Gods people. The Lord will not tolerate this. He has said,I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it. Even if all our leading men should refuse light and truth, that door will still remain open. The Lord will raise up men who will give the people the message for this time. {TM 107.1} The Truth Will Stand Truth is eternal, and conflict with error will only make manifest its strength. We should never refuse to examine the Scriptures with those who, we have reason to believe, desire to know what is truth. Suppose a brother held a view that differed from yours, and he should come to you, proposing that you sit down with him and make an investigation of that point in the Scriptures; should you rise up, filled with prejudice, and condemn his ideas, while refusing to give him a candid hearing? The only right way would be to sit down as Christians and investigate the position presented in the light of Gods word, which will reveal truth and unmask error. To ridicule his ideas would not weaken his position in the least if it were false, or strengthen your position if it were true. If the pillars of our faith will not stand the test of investigation, it is time that we knew it. There must be no spirit of Pharisaism cherished among us. {TM 107.2}
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