~ The 4 Generations of Adventism ~
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The 4 Generations of Adventism
Four Steps in Rebellion
(Based on the Oct. 2013 Future News)
1st Generation 2nd Generation 3rd Generation 4th Generation
#1. Pride & Jealousy #2. Spiritualism #3. False Message #4. Closed Door
-Lucifer -Self above God's Word -Accusing God -Cast out
-Wanting a king -Saul -Offers own sacrifice -Kingdom rent away
-Image of Jealousy -Secret Chambers -Weeping for Tammuz -Bowing to the sun
(false latter rain)
-Manasseh -Jehoiakim cuts up roll -Jehoiachin -Zedekiah
(false call out of Babylon) (goes to Babylon)
-1863, -1888, -1888 to 1919, -1989 to the Sunday Law
Organization = State Cuts up EGW's authority (false teachings come in, Generation of Vipers
GC President = King esp. "new view" of ‘daily')
Robert H. Pierson could see our present crisis coming already in 1978:
An Earnest Appeal from the Retiring President of the
General Conference (presented to Annual Council on
October 15, 1978)
“This will be the last time that in my present role I shall stand
before the world leaders of my church, your church, our church,
and I have a few words to leave with you.
I take my thoughts from something that Elder and Mrs. Ralph
Neall have written describing how typically a sect evolves into a
church. They say a sect is often begun by a charismatic leader
with tremendous drive and commitment and that it arises as a
protest against worldliness and formalism in a church. It is
generally embraced by the poor. The rich would lose too much
by joining it, since it is unpopular, despised, and persecuted by
society in general. It has definite beliefs firmly held by zealous
members. Each member makes a personal decision to join it and
knows what he believes. There is little organization or property,
and there are few buildings. The group has strict standards and
controls on behavior. Preachers, often without education, arise
by inner compulsion. There is little concern about public
relations.
And then it passes on to the second generation. With growth
there comes a need for organization and buildings. As a result of
industry and frugality, members become prosperous. As
prosperity increases, persecution begins to wane. Children born
into the movement do not have to make personal decisions to
join it. They do not necessarily know what they believe. They do
not need to hammer out their own positions. These have been
worked out for them. Preachers arise more by selection and by
apprenticeship to older workers than by direct inner
compulsion.
In the third generation, organization develops and institutions
are established. The need is seen for schools to pass on the faith
of the fathers. Colleges are established. Members have to be
exhorted to live up to the standards, while at the same time the
standards of membership are being lowered. The group
becomes lax about disfellowshiping non-practicing members.
Missionary zeal cools off. There is more concern over public
relations. Leaders study methods of propagating their faith,
sometimes employing extrinsic rewards as motivation for
service by members. Youth question why they are different from
others, and intermarry with those not of their faith.
In the fourth generation there is much machinery; the number
of administrators increases while the number of workers at the
grass-roots becomes proportionately less. Great church councils
are held to define doctrine. More schools, universities and
seminaries are established. These go to the world for
accreditation and tend to become secularized. There is a
reexamination of positions and modernizing of methods.
Attention is given to contemporary culture, with an interest in
the arts: music, architecture, literature. The movement seeks to
become ‘relevant’ to contemporary society by becoming
involved in popular causes. Services become formal. The group
enjoys complete acceptance by the world. The sect has become
a church!
Brethren and sisters, this must never happen to the Seventh-day
Adventist Church! This will not happen to the Seventh-day
Adventist Church. This is not just another church—it is God’s
church!
But you are the men and women sitting in this sanctuary this
morning on whom God is counting to assure that it does not
happen.
Already, brethren and sisters, there are subtle forces that are
beginning to stir. Regrettably there are those in the church who
belittle the inspiration of the Bible, who scorn the first 11
chapters of Genesis, who question the Spirit of Prophecy’s short
chronology of the earth, and who subtly and not so subtly attack
the Spirit of Prophecy. There are some who point to the
reformers and contemporary theologians as a source and the
norm for Seventh-day Adventist doctrine. There are those who
allegedly are tired of the hackneyed phrases of Adventism.
There are those who wish to forget the standards of the church
we love. There are those who covet and would court the favor of
the evangelicals; those who would throw off the mantle of a
peculiar people; and those who would go the way of the secular,
materialistic world.
Fellow leaders, beloved brethren and sisters—don’t let it
happen! I appeal to you as earnestly as I know how this
morning—don’t let it happen! I appeal to Andrews University,
to the Seminary, to Loma Linda University—don’t let it happen!
We are not Seventh-day Anglicans, not Seventh-day
Lutherans—we are Seventh-day Adventists! This is God’s last
church with God’s last message.
You are the men and women, the leaders, whom God is counting
on to keep the Seventh-day Adventist Church God’s remnant
church, the church God has destined to triumph!
The servant of the Lord says, ‘Fearful perils are before those
who bear responsibilities in the Lord’s work—perils the
thought of which makes me tremble.’ (Selected Messages,
volume 2, p. 391) And in Ezekiel 22:30 we read, ‘I looked for a
man among them who could build a barricade, who could stand
before me in the breach to defend the land from ruin.’ (NEB)
I believe this morning, fellow leaders that God is looking for men
and women, intrepid leaders, men and women who love God’s
church and God’s truth more than they love their lives, to see
that this church under God goes through to the kingdom. The
task ahead of us is not going to be easy. If I understand the Bible
and the Spirit of Prophecy aright this morning, ahead lies a time
of trouble, a time of challenge such as this church and this world
have never before known.
The servant of the Lord tells us: ‘The enemy of souls has sought
to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take
place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation
would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the
pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization.
Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The
principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the
remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be
changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the
work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new
organization would be established. Books of a new order would
be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be
introduced. The founders of this system would go into the cities,
and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of course, would be
lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. Nothing would
be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. The
leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being
removed, they would place their dependence on human power,
which, without God, is worthless.’ (Selected Messages, volume 1,
pp. 204, 205)
The Seventh-day Adventist Church had its alpha years ago. You
and I are the leaders who will face the omega that will be of the
same subtle, devilish origin. Its effect will be more devastating
than the alpha. Brethren, I beg of you, study, know what is
ahead, then with God’s help prepare your people to meet it!
‘God calls for men who are prepared to meet emergencies, men
who in a crisis will not be found standing on the wrong side.’
(Review and Herald, November 5, 1903)
‘We are pressing on to the final conflict, and this is no time for
compromise. It is no time to hide your colors. When the battle
wages sore, let no one turn traitor. It is no time to lay down or
conceal our weapons, and give Satan the advantage in the
warfare.’ (Review and Herald, December 6, 1892)
And then I call attention to a vision the Lord’s servant had, in
which she saw a ship heading toward an iceberg. She said:
‘There, towering high above the ship, was a gigantic iceberg. An
authoritative voice cried out, "Meet it!" There was not a
moment's hesitation. It was a time for instant action. The
engineer put on full steam, and the man at the wheel steered the
ship straight into the iceberg. With a crash she struck the ice.
There was a fearful shock, and the iceberg broke into many
pieces, falling with a noise like thunder to the deck. The
passengers were violently shaken by the force of the collisions,
but no lives were lost. The vessel was injured, but not beyond
repair. She rebounded from the contact, trembling from stem to
stern, like a living creature. Then she moved forward on her
way.
Well I knew the meaning of this representation. I had my
orders. I had heard the words, like a voice from our Captain,
"Meet it!" I knew what my duty was, and that there was not a
moment to lose. The time for decided action had come. I must
without delay obey the command, "Meet it!" (Selected Messages,
volume 1, pp. 205, 206)
Fellow leaders, it may be that in the not too distant future you
will have to meet it. I pray God will give you grace and courage
and wisdom.
Finally, ‘What a wonderful thought it is that the great
controversy is nearing its end! In the closing work we shall meet
with perils that we know not how to deal with; but let us not
forget that the three great powers of heaven are working, that a
divine hand is on the wheel, and that God will bring His purposes
to pass. He will gather from the world a people who will serve
Him in righteousness.’ (Selected Messages, volume 2, p. 391)
What a wonderful assurance we have this morning, brethren
and sisters that you and I are in God’s work. This work is not
dependent on any man; it is dependent on our relationship with
Him. There is only one way for us to face the future, and that is
at the foot of the cross. A church with its eyes upon the Man of
Calvary will never walk into apostasy.
Thank you, brethren and sisters, for giving me the privilege of
serving you for the past 45 years, and may God bless every one
of you.”
