How Readest Thou?

by John Cope

I believe it is vital to understand God does not harden the heart of anyone until they have chosen to refuse Truth when It is presented to them. That is to say, not only do they refuse Truth, they do not wish to know It. Thus, God did not cause Pharoah's heart to become hardened, God hardened it Himselfdue to his resistance to Truth.

Might not the same apply to Ellen White followers of today? Especially when their lives have been spent in her service? Where does God fit in? What of; "in His service"?

When I think of so many Adventists I have known in younger years, I feel for those who have spent their lives under feelings of guilt due to her "spirit of prophecy". While I don't know that it was she, who attached this lie to her "inspiration", I do know today it is defined; "as manifested in the writings of Ellen G. White" as per number 8, in my baptismal vows in conjunction with number 20, in the fundamental doctrines of the church.

As an Adventist (decades ago), I often wondered why Adventism did not proclaim loudly to the world Ellen G. White. Now I know. It is not because my former fellow Adventist brethern were not genuinely seeking Truth. It is because they have been genuinely deceived. If so much of their doctrine was to be based upon the writings of this woman, and if she were truly writing under the inspiration of God, then, yes, she would be loudly, boldly and proudly proclaimed to the world with a very loud voice. However, as it stands, her followers are as much caught up in Babylon as is the rest of Christianity.

Is it really possible for there not to lie, somewhere in the shadows of their consciences, a glimmer of doubt in her message? Is it possible this "lesser light" may be serving as a distraction from the Greater Light?

My dear friends, the Spirit of Prophecy is the Testimony of Jesus and the Testimony of Jesus is two words; Worship God. Once we get those two words we, too, can and will have the Spirit of Prophecy. Until we get It we will continue to live in darkness and be deceived by the spirit of the dragon, that old serpent, the devil, going about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

"If any man add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book". Seems Ellen has "added" a great and fanciful introduction to the word of God in her famous book, "The Great Controversy".

I am a sinner, have always been a sinner and will remain a sinner until the day I die. In the day of the Lord I will shed my corruptible flesh and put on incorruptible immortality when I am called to meet Him in the air. In an instant I will know a whole new dimension of existence. All memory of my past life of sin will be forgotten. Between now and the day I die I fully expect to encounter a world of hardship and tribulation. That time of trouble for me will not be counted as time spent in the "heart of the earth", however. I expect to be fully conscious and aware of any such trials. We are promised we will not be given more than we can bear and what we can bear will not even come close to what our Lord endured before us. His time of trial leading up to His death is not to be considered as time spent in death and I find it shameful that some Adventist preachers are explaining away His three days and three nights in the heart of the earth as having been so. Can not the people of the Lord see this is yet but another deception of satan started by the Catholic church into which they are buying in addition to the false doctrine of a trinity of gods? Was not the entire nation of Israel (God's chosen people), caught up in false doctrine at one time and sided against the one man of God, who dared stand up to them on Carmel? Had they not placed the teachings of others before the commandments of God?

As for "inclusive reckoning", consider the following. If any part of three days and three nights in the tomb can be considered by the believers to be 3 days and 3 nights, how about I take my Sabbath rest on Friday nights and work on Saturday? I'll be keeping a part of the Sabbath, no? Maybe if I take not only Friday night, but also the final hours of the Sabbath on Saturday after working hard all day? After all, Saturday is a really big day for business in my business.

You see, folks, it's how Scripture is explained away by many who call themselves the people of God vs. how it reads Biblically. How readest thou?.. jc