"We are repeating the history of that people." 5T,
p. 160.
Ellen G. White
Compiled by Neil C. Livingston
[all emphasis supplied]
The
Seventh-day Adventist Church Is Modern Israel
"Satan's snares
are laid for us as verily as they were laid for the children of
Israel just prior to their
entrance into the land of Canaan," Ellen White warned.
"We are repeating the history of that people."
((Healthful Living, page 280; ST., No. 31, p. 156).
"The trials of
the children of Israel, and their attitude just
before the first coming of Christ," Ellen White warned,
"illustrate the position of the people of God in their experience
before the second coming
of Christ." ("The Modern Church Repeating the History
of Ancient Israel," (ibid., Healthful Living, page
280; R&H, 1890, No. 7)
Spiritual Condition of Modern Israel
"This know also,
that in the last days
perilous times shall come," the apostle Paul warned. "For
[Christian] men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded,
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness
[modern Adventism], but denying the power thereof: from such turn
away." (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
Satan's snares are laid for us as verily as they were laid for the
children of Israel just prior to their entrance into the land of
Canaan. We
are repeating the history of that people. Lightness, vanity,
love of ease and pleasure, selfishness, and impurity are
increasing among us [1896]. There is need now of men who
are firm and fearless in
declaring the whole counsel of God [the straight testimony];
men who will not sleep as do others, but watch and be sober. Knowing
as I do the great
lack of holiness and power with our ministers [1896], I am
deeply pained to see the efforts for self-exaltation. If they could
but see Jesus as He is, and themselves as they are, so weak, so
inefficient, so unlike their Master, they would say: If my name
may be written in the obscurest part of the book of life, it is
enough for me, so unworthy am I of His notice.
Ellen G. White, Testimonies
for the Church, Vol. 5, page 160.
"The manifestation of the Lord's glory was needed to quell
the mad and blasphemous utterances of the people, and to save the
lives of his servants [Joshua and Caleb] from the maddened throng,"
Ellen White stated, then she asked. "Has
there not been seen in modern Israel manifestations similar to this?
Has not the loud, boisterous voice of rebellion been heard in
your council meetings and in your board meetings? . . ."
(Rolling Back the Reproach, page 29).
Modern
Israel in Greater Danger of Forgetting God Than Ancient Israel
I was pointed back
to ancient Israel. But
two of
the adults of the vast army that left Egypt entered the land of
Canaan. Their dead bodies were strewn in the wilderness because
of their transgressions. Modern
Israel are in greater danger of forgetting God and
being led into idolatry than were His ancient people. Many
idols are worshiped, even
by professed Sabbathkeepers. God especially charged His ancient
people to guard against idolatry, for if they should be led away
from serving the living God, His curse would rest upon them, while
if they would love Him with all their heart, with all their soul,
and with all their might, He would abundantly bless them in basket
and in store, and would remove sickness from the midst of them.
Ellen G. White, Testimonies
for the Church, Vol. 1, page 609.
Modern Israel Fast Following in Footsteps of Ancient Israel
"The sin of ancient
Israel was in disregarding the expressed will of God and following
their own way according to the leadings of unsanctified hearts,"
Ellen White wrote. "Modern
Israel are fast following in their footsteps, and the
displeasure of the Lord is as surely resting upon them."
(Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, page 94).
Modern Israel's Great Sin - Turning From God to Idols
"The great sin
of ancient Israel was in turning from God to idols," Ellen
White stated. "This
is also the great sin of Modern Israel." (Review
and Herald, June 3, 1880).
Modern Israel's Weakness - Neglect to Obey the Divine Law
"The cause of
Israel's weakness lay in their departure from God by disobedience
to his commandments," Ellen White wrote. "The reason of
the weakness and backsliding of modern Israel is their neglect to
obey the divine law." (Signs of the Times, June 9,
1881).
Exercising
Ecclesiastical Authority Is Repeating History of Jewish Nation
Sometimes the case
seems hopeless to me, because
you have been treading in the very footsteps of the Jewish nation.
You are repeating
their history. The whole heavenly universe is astonished at
the spiritual condition of things at Battle Creek. Now and then
there is a comfortable, easy feeling, but this is not the deep moving
of the Spirit of God. All heaven sees that if you had a more correct
experimental knowledge of the truth, you
would never assume jurisdiction and command over your fellow-men
as you have done. You would never think that you could take control
of the great interests all over the field, nigh and afar off. It
is because of a departure from God that such gross ignorance in
regard to the management of his work has come in.
Ellen G. White, "To
Those in Responsible Positions in Battle Creek," 1888
Materials, pages 1631, 1632. (December 18, 1896).
Backsliding
in Health Reform is Repeating History of
Ancient Israel
"In this experience
of backsliding from the
principles of health reform, our people have been repeating
the history of the Children of Israel in the wilderness during their
forty years of travel," Ellen White stated -- then warned.
"Those who continue to follow their own course in this respect,
eating and drinking as they please, will
gradually grow careless of the instructions of the Lord regarding
other phases of the present truth; they will surely reap
as they have sown." (Spalding and Magan Collection,
page 428).
Modern Israel and the Testimonies
"There is a limit
beyond which the judgments of Jehovah can no longer be delayed,"
Ellen White warned modern Israel. "The desolation of Jerusalem
in the days of Jeremiah is
a solemn warning to modern Israel, that the counsels
and admonitions given them through chosen instrumentalities
cannot be disregarded with
impunity." (Prophets and Kings, page 417).
His word will bring as serious consequences upon God's people today
as did the same sin upon ancient Israel. There is a limit beyond
which He will no longer delay His judgments. The
desolation of Jerusalem stands as a solemn warning before
the eyes of modern Israel, that
the corrections given through His chosen instruments cannot be disregarded
with impunity.
Ellen G. White, Testimonies
for the Church, Vol. 4, page 167; Review
and Herald, June 30, 1885; Signs
of the Times, February 12, 1880.
Modern Israel and Politics
"This command
[2 Corinthians 6:17] is just as valid today as when God gave it
to Moses to give to the children of Israel," Ellen White stated.
"The sins against which ancient Israel were warned have
led modern Israel into byways and forbidden paths. The
professed people of God have made those who are trampling
under foot His commandments their counselors [Roman Catholic
attorney in Perez case]." ("Seventh-day Adventist's and
Politics," Manuscript Releases, Vol. 9, page 130;
The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, pages 327, 328).
Modern Israel and the Ecumenical Movement
Satan is continually
seeking to overcome the people of God by breaking down the barriers
which separate them from the world. Ancient Israel were enticed
into sin when they ventured into forbidden
association with the heathen. In
a similar manner are modern Israel led astray. . ..
When Christians choose the society of the ungodly and
unbelieving, they expose themselves to temptation. Satan
conceals himself from view and stealthily draws his deceptive covering
over their eyes. They cannot see that such company is calculated
to do them harm; and while all the time assimilating to the world
in character, words, and actions, they are becoming more and more
blinded.
Ellen G. White, The
Great Controversy, page 508.
A Babylonish Garment for Modern Israel
The unbelief and sins
of ancient Israel were presented before me, and
I saw that similar wrongs and iniquity exist among modern Israel.
The pen of inspiration recorded their crimes for the benefit of
those who
live in these last days, that
we might shun their evil example. Achan coveted and secreted
a wedge of gold and a goodly Babylonish garment that were taken
as spoil from the enemy. But the Lord had pronounced the city of
Jericho accursed and had commanded the people not to take of the
spoil of their enemies for their own use.
Ellen G. White, "Dishonesty
in the Church," Testimonies
for the Church, Vol. 4, page 491.
Modern Israel Less Eexcusable Than Ancient Israel
Had not the Lord been
slow to anger, and mercifully considerate of the ignorance and weakness
of the children of Israel, he would have destroyed them in his wrath.
He exercises the same pitying tenderness toward modern Israel. But
we are less excusable than was ancient Israel. We have had
every opportunity to elevate and ennoble our characters, which they
did not have. We also have their history, recorded that we may shun
their example of unbelief and impatient murmuring and rebellion.
Ellen G. White, "Journeyings
of the Israelites," Signs
of the Times, April 15, 1880.
Modern
Israel Responsible for Delay of Entrance Into Heavenly Canaan
"For forty years
did unbelief, murmuring, and rebellion shut out ancient Israel from
the land of Canaan," Ellen White stated. "The
same sins have delayed the entrance of modern Israel into the heavenly
Canaan." (Evangelism, page 696; Manuscript
4, 1883; Maranatha, page 61; Selected Messages,
Bk. 1, page 69)).
"In neither case
were the promises of God at fault," Ellen White concluded..
"It is the unbelief, the worldliness, unconsecration, and strife
among the Lord's professed
people that have kept us in this world of sin and sorrow
so many years." (ibid., Evangelism, page 696;
Manuscript 4, 1883).
A Lesson for Modern Israel
"Please read the
third chapter [of Jeremiah]. This chapter is a
lesson for modern Israel," Ellen White counseled. "Let
all who claim to be children of God understand that He will not
serve with their sins any more than He would with the sins of ancient
Israel. God hates hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong."
(Letter 34, 1899).
God's
people to-day have
far greater light than had ancient Israel. They have not only
the increased light which has been shining upon them, but the instruction
given by God to Moses, to be given to the people. God specified
the difference between the sacred and the common, and declared that
this difference must be strictly observed. This
lesson is given also to modern Israel. That which God has
set apart as sacred must ever be respected as sacred. Christ was
the foundation of the Jewish economy. When type met antitype in
his death, the need for sacrificial offerings ceased. But the lessons
regarding practical obedience, given by Christ from the mount of
blessing, were still binding.
Ellen G. White, Rolling
Back the Reproach, page 28.
God's Requirements of Modern Israel
Conviction and thorough
repentance was required of ancient Israel in order to meet the standard
of God. No
less does God require of his people in our day. There must
be genuine heart work in repentance and humiliation, in order to
come under this covenant care, and protecting love of God. Unmistakable
evidence is given that God is a jealous God, and that he
will require of Modern Israel as he did of ancient Israel,
that they
obey his law. For all who live upon the earth is this sacred
history traced by the pen of inspiration.
Ellen G. White, The
Signs of the Times, May 27, 1880.
Revival and Reformation in Modern Israel
"Without the grace
of Christ the outward forms of religion were valueless to ancient
Israel," Ellen White counseled. "They are the same to
modern Israel." ("Revival," Conflict and Courage,
page 145; Signs of the Times, January 1, 1882.
Modern Israel and Reform Workers
Envy, jealousy, dishonesty,
falsehoods, and evil surmisings have ever had to be met. They existed
in the time of ancient Israel, and
will ever be found in modern Israel. Some one must meet this
element, and
whoever does will displease some; it cannot be otherwise, for
there will ever be those who will sympathize with wrong-doers. Those
who have shunned that part of the work which requires anxiety and
care, boldness and fortitude, will
receive no reward for their silence and their peaceful demeanor;
but condemnation
will be written against them.
Ellen G. White, The
Judgment, pages 10, 11.
God's True Remnant of Modern Israel
"The remnant
of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies," the
prophet Zephaniah wrote, "neither shall a deceitful tongue
be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none
shall make them afraid." (Zephaniah 3:13).
"I was shown that
those who are trying to obey God and purify their souls through
obedience to the truth," Ellen White stated, "are
God's chosen people, His modern Israel." (Testimonies
for the Church, Vol. 2, page 109).
God's Appeal to the Remnant of Modern Israel
All the experience
of Israel has a lesson for us, who are living in the last hours
of time. We should carefully consider their course of action and
the dealings of God with them, and then imitate their virtues, while
we shun those acts which brought upon them his displeasure.
This mighty God of Israel is our God. In him we may trust, and if
we obey his requirements he
will work for us in as signal a manner as he did for his ancient
people. It
should be the most earnest study and continual effort of
modern Israel to
bring themselves into close and intimate relationship with God.
Then with the mind quickened, the perceptions sharpened, they will
discern his infinite power and overruling providence in all his
dealings with man, and in all his created works.
Ellen G. White, The
Signs of the Times, November 11, 1880.
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Last updated :
November 12, 2001