THE ETERNAL
VOL. 5 NO. 4 Editor’s Special
“CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE DELIVERED UNTO THE SAINTS.” JUDE 3
Why We Cannot Join Adventist Hospital & Disney Sign $10 Million by F. D. Nichol Review and Herald Merger March 18, 1965 What position should Adventists take in relation to the ecumenical movement? First we should not set out F. D. Nichol, on a program of denouncformer Editor ing all who are leaders in of the Review the movement. God judges men by their motives, the and Herald. state of their heart. But though we should not judge them, we cannot join them. That should be transparently clear to every Adventist who knows anything of the real spirit and nature of the Advent Movement. The essence of the ecumenical movement is “Come in.” But at the very heart of the Advent Movement is the command, “Come out.” Indeed, only as we preach this command —continued on 6
Don’t Let it Happen by Robert Pierson Review & Herald November 26, 1978 This will be the last time that in my present role I shall stand before the world leaders of my church, your Pierson was a church, our church, and I former Presi- have a few words to leave dent of the with you. General Conference. 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 —continued on page 8
Has Mickey Mouse become a medical missionary evangelist? What’s Next? Will Goofy or Donald Duck one day be elected to the G.C. Executive Committee? Read the entire story on page 9. Photo: Adventist and Disney executives, along with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, join hands together as a lasting partnership between Walt Disney Inc. and the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The Resurgence of Adventist Mayor Medieval Catholicism Weds Gay Couple The Crusade of Pope Benedict the XVI There is a zealous movement within Roman Catholicism to revive all the medieval traditions of the church. What has been coming out from Rome since Benedict XVI has assumed the papacy has been a revival of traditional, medieval orthodoxy. The Latin Mass is Back—The ancient Tridentine mass [Latin Mass] was restored by Pope Benedict XVI on July 4, 2007 with his apostolic letter Summorum Pontificum. The ancient mass had been abandoned in 1962 by Vatican II. During Vatican II, Catholic cardinals and bishops decreed that the mass would be used in the vernacular and not in Latin, a step seen as a reform and a new beginning for the church. Pope Benedict, through his pronouncement, has undone what an entire assembly of theologians and church officials built up. How? By reviving the 16th Century Mass. He has single-handedly swept away Vatican II’s work from 1962-1965, a view at odds with Benedict XVI, who sees his work as a restorer of church —continued on page 6
Philly Mayor to Officiate at Gay Union Nov. 19, 2007 - The Associated Press Mayor John Street, once regarded as an enemy of the gay community for opposing same-sex partner benefits, is to preside over his first same-sex commitment ceremony this weekend. Street said —continued on page 5
Britain has become John McCain Seeks Huntsville Police: 15 a Catholic Country Catholic Support Students Arrested at By Jonathan Wynne-Jones www.telegraph.co.uk Dec. 26, 2007 Roman Catholics have overtaken Anglicans as the country's dominant religious group. More people attend Mass every Sunday than worship with the Church of England. This means that the established Church has lost its place as the nation's most popular Christian denomination after more than four centuries of unrivalled influence following the Reformation. The rise of Catholicism has been bolstered by an influx of immigrants from eastern Europe and Africa, who have packed the pews of Catholic parishes that had previously been dwindling.
Jan 23, 2008, Catholic News Agency - John McCain has set his sights on Florida as the state’s primary draws closer. In a conversation with Catholics in Florida and CNA this afternoon, McCain maintained his support for embryonic stem cell research while emphasizing his hope that it will become an academic issue given the latest scientific advances. On the issue of appointments to the Supreme Court, McCain mentioned that Sam Brownback [a Roman Catholic] would play an advisory role in helping decide who he should nominate for the Supreme Court. As models of who he would select, John McCain pointed to Justices Samuel Alito and Antonin Scalia [both Roman Catholics]. Pro-life advocates see the choice of Supreme Court Justices as key to overturning the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision, which legalized abortion.
Oakwood College Melee The Associated Press December 10, 2007 HUNTSVILLE, Ala. A fight between two women turned into a melee at Oakwood College, police said, with 15 students under arrest after hundreds of people allegedly confronted officers who broke up the altercation. Two officers suffered minor injuries in the fracas, which began late Saturday, and authorities said Monday they were still sorting out what happened at the small college. "It was a major event," said Huntsville police spokesman Wendell —continued on page 5
page 2 the eternal gospel herald — volume 5, no. 4
Why Publish The Eternal Gospel Herald? —by Pastor Ron Spear Those who read The Eternal Gospel Herald may ask why we put this inspired material out to the church. As an Editor of the Gospel Herald, in this edition I will try to explain to our readers why it was necessary to present this special material to our people. “I saw that many who profess to believe the truth for these last days think it strange that the children of Israel murmured as they journeyed; that after the wonderful dealings of God with them, they should be so ungrateful as to forget what He had done for them. Said the angel: ‘Ye have done worse than they.’ I saw that God has given His servants the truth so clear, so plain, that it cannot be resisted. Wherever they go, they have certain victory. Their enemies cannot get round the convincing truth. Light has been shed so clear that the servants of God can stand up anywhere and let truth, clear and connected, bear away the victory.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 129. How could such a tragedy take place in this final crisis hour? In every generation in the Old Testament when the prophet was rejected and many times killed, the church went into a worse apostasy. We are told we are repeating the history of the apostate Jewish church. In the New Testament (Matthew 23:38) Christ tells the Jews that the Jewish church is left desolate. God can no longer deal with the Pharisees and the Jewish structure. In AD 70, there was no structure and no leaders left after the destruction. Matthew chapter 24 has two applications—AD 70, but more importantly the final generation. It is difficult for our leaders, pastors, and laity to accept the present church status is worse than the Jewish church. Thirteen times Ellen White states in Testimonies, vol. 5, that we are following the same path as the Jews. “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. There is need now of men who are firm and fearless in declaring the whole counsel of God; 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, I am deeply pained to see
THE ETERNAL GOSPEL HERALD PO Box 15138 West Palm Beach, FL 33416 1-800-769-2150 eternalgospel@att.net Subscription: FREE If you wish to receive a free subscription of this publication, please contact our office at: PO Box 15138, West Palm Beach, FL 33416 | 1-800-769-2150 | email: eternalgospel@att.net Online Edition: www.eternalgospelherald.com Raphael Perez Editor Andy Roman Assistant Editor Patricia Rocco Copy Editor
Ron Spear Co-Editor Miriam Ponce Peter Prestol Norma Perez Contributors
The Eternal Gospel Herald is published from West Palm Beach, Florida, USA, by the Eternal Gospel Church, a ministry that was founded in 1992 by Seventh-day Adventist believers to bring true, genuine, world-wide revival and reformation by proclaiming the Third Angel’s Message. The Eternal Gospel Herald is sent to you free of charge, with much love, work, and sacrifice. Every effort is made to insure the accuracy of the information contained herein. This publication is printed to communicate the issues and subjects pertaining solely to the development and fulfillment of the third angel’s message and the advance of Christ’s character in the lives of God’s faithful people. We hope and pray that you will not only enjoy it but that it will be informative and spiritually enlightening to all of you. It is only by the grace of God and the support of each of you that we are able to participate in publishing, radio, newspapers, billboards, and foreign missions.
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.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 160. Let us remember the very last deception is to make of none effect the Testimony and the Spirit of God. See Selected Messages, book 1, 38. It is difficult for us to accept that the church is in apostasy. How did it happen? We have lowered the standard to meet the practices and demands of our people in the following areas: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Divorce and remarriage; Music. See Selected Messages, book 2, 35-37; Recreation, competitive sports; Dress styles; mixed swimming; Theater going; Jewelry, sacrificial living; Sabbathkeeping according to Isaiah 58:13-14; Watching movies and sports (now on television and videos); Reverence in God’s sanctuary; Importance of the Spirit of Prophecy; Health reform, flesh eating, etc.; Diversions, now video games and the internet; Coffee drinking and cola beverages; Pulpit preaching, now saved in sinning, downplaying of sanctification.
Our retreat toward Egypt is documented by our rejection of Christ’s leadership as delineated in the Testimony of Jesus, which is the Spirit of Prophecy. We are in rebellion as demonstrated by our disobedience to Christ’s plans in: 1. O u r e d u c a t i o n a l s y s t e m — promoting competitive sports, drama, literature of the world, immodest dress, and so on; 2. Our health care system—neglect of medical missionary work, simple remedies, sanitariums, treatment rooms, vegetarian restaurants, and so on; 3. Publishing houses—the way they operate in promoting a plethora of story books and non-Adventist authors and musicians, in comparison to serious messages and Spirit of Prophecy publications; 4. Evangelism to the world— baptizing without regard to the conversion experience; 5. The three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12—preaching obedience to God while in open rebellion to His directives; 6. Neglecting the sanctuary message and its importance to the three angels’ messages—perfection of character in God’s final generation as an essential part of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary. These are six areas in which we have
largely divorced ourselves from the directions God has given through His testimony to the remnant church. God will take the reins into His own hands. “Unless those who can help in _____ are aroused to a sense of their duty, they will not recognize the work of God when the loud cry of the third angel shall be heard. When light goes forth to lighten the earth, instead of coming up to the help of the Lord, they will want to bind about His work to meet their narrow ideas. Let me tell you that the Lord will work in this last work in a manner very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning. There will be those among us who will always want to control the work of God, to dictate even what movements shall be made when the work goes forward under the direction of the angel who joins the third angel in the message to be given to the world. God will use ways and means by which it will be seen that He is taking the reins in His own hands. The workers will be surprised by the simple means that He will use to bring about and perfect His work of righteousness.” Testimonies to Ministers, p. 300.
Letters Dear Workers at the Eternal Gospel Church, I just want to let you know that I keep you all in prayer before the Lord. May God continue to bless you and your work for Him. I have seen how God has shown us what is happening in the world and how we need to be ready. May the Lord continue to bless, your Sister in Christ, Grace Perchez, Utah. Dear Sirs, Recently, while going through some paperwork, I came across a piece of literature with your name on it along with an offer for free books in both English and Spanish. The men here at __________ Correctional Institution have a severe need for this type of literature. We are asking that you send us any quantity of books that you are able to send. The State of Florida does not provide us with funds for purchasing religious items so any gift would be greatly appreciated. On behalf of the men here and myself, we sincerely want to thank you for your help. May God continue to bless you and your work. Joseph Schwab, Senior Chaplain, ________ Correctional Institution, Florida. Dear Eternal Gospel Church, First of all I want to thank you for your ministry and all of your staff members and for your dedication. I am a Seventh-day Adventist and am very grateful for your Newsletter that I already started receiving. Please send me Earth’s Final Warning in both English and Spanish. I thank you so much for your help and for helping us inmates here in prison. May God continue blessing you all. Sincerely, L. L., _______ Correctional Institution, Florida. Dear Brethren, Thank you for standing tall for truth. My prayers are offered daily for all of us who are historic Seventh-day Adventists. Rough times are ahead but we are secure in Jesus. Dr. Phil Putman, Arizona. Dear Sir, I just finished reading your pamphlet “Earth’s Final Warning.” Thanks for printing it. It was excellent. God bless you for all you do.” Sincerely, Mark Roudybush, Virginia.
the eternal gospel herald — volume 5, no. 4
page 3
Protestants are in Need of Being Reformed Again —By Andy Roman
Luther was summoned to renounce his views by the Roman Catholic Church. At a general assembly in Germany, Luther defended his positions which became the pillars of the Protestant Reformation.
The Antichrist of Bible Prophecy Exposed —By Mike Nicholson Who are the four beasts, the ten horns, with the Little Horn coming up among them, found in Daniel 7, Revelation 13 & 17 ? Can we know without making a mistake? Has the Bible and History shown us who this Little Horn is? Today the whole world is focused on who this person is, there are many voices today saying that they know who this person is. Question, are they right? Let us let God thru His sure word of Prophecy reveal to us, with unquestioned and absolute proof who this little Horn is riding on the beast we find in Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 & 17. It would be well for you to read these chapters in the Bible, first asking God to send to you the Holy Spirit to help you understand what He has revealed in these chapters of the Bible about the Antichrist power. According to the Bible, the Antichrist power is opposed to Christ, while at the same time claiming to be Christ in the flesh. He has disguised himself with a cloak of religious garb, and will have a Christian name. He will have Christian forms in his services. He will have a new plan for salvation not found in the Bible—yet pretending to lead all men to heaven, claiming they are the true and only system who has all truth for Salvation. However, he will only be leading them to perdition. The Antichrist is a counterfeit to the real gospel, and he will be a very clever, subtle and deceptive power. I want to point out we are not talking about a people or a person, but we’re talking about a Christian religious system, I want to make it crystal clear that there are many sincere, honest-hearted people in this Antichrist organized system. Many today are serving God to the best of their knowledge. A careful study of the Bible and History reveals with unmistakable evidence that this Beast Power represents the Roman Catholic Papacy religious system. Many today are still looking for the Antichrist to come sometime in the near future, but according to the Bible, this Antichrist system has been here since 538AD. We must abide by the word of God. We must look for a system that has been here for a long time. This is where History can play a big part in helping our understanding about who this Antichrist system is. But first let us take a look at Paul’s warning and description of who the Antichrist is, found in 2Thess. 2:3-11. 1. “Let no man deceive you.” 2. “A falling Away.” 3. “That Man of Sin.” He would oppose God.” 4. “The Mystery of iniquity.” He would exalt himself above God, and sit in the temple. {church} 5. “Showing himself to be God, he would receive worship, and forgive sins.” 6. “The wicked would be revealed as fake, a sham, a fraud and counterfeit and the Lord would consume with His mouth, would destroy him at the second coming of Christ.” 7. “Work like Satan his master, with all power , signs and lying wonders {miracles} and many of his followers will be deceived and will perish, because they received not the love of Truth, this is called a strong delusion. John also gives us 21 very important, specific, detailed and convincing points of his true identification in Rev. 13. Notice, that all of the 21 —continued on page 11
In the minds of our people the faith of our Protestant ancestors is being taken away from us. The true faith and experience of the Reformers has been compromised by all the sweet talk of the ecumenical movement. When the spirit of Protestantism was fully alive, the Reformers had a powerful, united voice against the abuses of distorted Christianity. Because of their great zeal for God’s truth they were able to turn the whole world upside-down and change the entire course of human history. The Protestant Reformation produced a great uproar and “house-cleaning” which resulted in the greatest fragmentation in history of the church. The outcome was that the entire world came out of the Dark Ages. Sadly we are heading right back into the Dark Ages because the heirs of the Reformers have rejected the principles of the Reformation. You hear so much talk about how we need to bring back classical Reformation theology today. But these same people then try to get you to accept fictitious principles that are not Reformation at all. No matter how much people may talk about Reformation principles, our concept of the Protestant Reformation is not the same kind which Luther practiced. Protestantism has changed since the 16th Century. Roman Catholicism hasn’t changed. Roman Catholicism teaches traditions and practices tradition. Rome lets you know where it stands, even though they are wrong. Unlike Protestants, who preach Biblical truth and practices Catholic traditions mixed-in with some distortions of the Bible. That is the problem we are facing today. We don’t practice what we preach. And Seventh-day Adventists, who are also heirs of the Reformers, are not immune to this ecumenically conflicted Protestant mind. There is a vast array of confusion and disagreement within Protestantism today. What are the fundamental principles of the Reformation, and how are they being changed? Even though there are several teachings associated with Protestantism, Reformation theology can be summarized into four central issues. Sola Scriptura / The Bible Alone When summoned by the representatives of the church and the officials of the state at Worms, Germany, Luther was told to recant his positions. He was told that his teachings were in direct conflict with the official decisions of the great church councils, the papal declarations, and the many minds of the church, which were binding on the constituent church members. When asked if he, one man, stood against the pope, the church fathers, the great church councils, and all the scholars, cardinals, and bishops Luther replied that he did. He believed that the church, and even the pope himself, could err. The position that Luther took was that his views were based upon the Bible and that if they could show him from the Bible his error he would gladly burn his own writings. The church didn’t want to talk about theology. They wanted to resolve the problem by church authority. Luther was given a final opportunity to recant his statements on the basis that the Church was the final authority in religious questions. Luther then made his famous declaration: “Unless I am convinced by sacred Scriptures I will not recant. For my conscience is held captive by the word of God, and to act contrary to conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I can do nothing else. God help me.” At this historic meeting Luther declared that the only written source that has the level of authority to actually bind the conscience of a person is the Bible. No written document of men, no collective teaching of the theologians past or present, no church tradition, no church council, no creeds, or confessions of faith, nor any statement of beliefs can bind the conscience absolutely. The only Person who has that authority to utter the words, “So let it be said, so let it be done,” is God Himself. And only the word of God carries that kind of weight and authority. At this point, Luther was condemned as a heretic and excommunicated from the Church. Have Seventh-day Adventists come to a place in our history in which the Bible is now being replaced by a man-made creed? Are the 28 Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Church Manual being used to discipline or to excommunicate its members? During the Florida trademark lawsuit George Reid, representing the General Conference, told the Federal Court that a true Seventhday Adventist is one who adheres to the 27 Fundamental Beliefs of the SDA Church. [in 2000 there were only 27 beliefs at that time]. We have the court transcripts. —continued on page 10
page 4 the eternal gospel herald — volume 5, no. 4
Who Told You to Hate Historic Adventism? —by Pastor Raphael Perez Who told you to hate the pillars of the Seventh-day Adventist faith and change them? Who told you that historic Adventism is in need of transformation? Who is telling you that the role of Ellen White needs to be reevaluated? Who is telling you that the third angel’s message is a hate message and that those who dare proclaim it loudly and publicly are a hate group? Who is teaching you these things—to despise your birthright, to deny your past experience, and to abandon the way in which the Lord your God has led you? The Seventh-day Adventist people have been on this planet for almost 165 years. And for the first 100 years the church has enjoyed virtually universal confidence in the historical teachings of the faith. But for the last 50 years we have endured an unprecedented period of crisis—a theological crisis that threatens to destroy the very life of the movement. So much criticism has been leveled against our historic message by people from both within and from outside of Adventism. Church leaders in academic, scholarly, and administrative posts are reacting negatively to the “faith which was once delivered to the saints.” There are few, if any, who are seeking to restore historic Adventism to a central and more serious role in the life of the church. The loudest voices today are those who are critical about our past experience. These sad days have reached such a peak in Adventism as never before. A similar experience happened to Adam in the Garden of Eden. When God created Adam He placed Him in a perfect paradise in order to have a close communion with him, to walk with him, and to give him instruction. Adam was to learn from God alone. “Adam and Eve, in their untainted purity, delighted in the sights and sounds of Eden...Each day’s labor brought them health and gladness, and the happy pair greeted with joy the visits of their Creator, as in the cool of the day He walked and talked with them. Daily God taught them His lessons.” Ministry of Healing, p. 261. The Bible tells us that after Adam sinned he hid himself because of his nakedness. Surprisingly, God directly asked him an important question that we today need to consider: “Who told thee that thou wast naked?” Gen. 3:11. In other words, “Who have you been talking to and who are you getting your information from?” The serpent was the medium by which the devil caused Adam and Eve to doubt, to disobey, and to distance themselves from their previous experience. “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted…” 2 Cor. 11:3. Adam and Eve departed totally from the true source of life and truth and turned to the lying wonders of the serpent for their theology and The serpent’s rationalisms caused philosophy. The “daily Adam and Even to doubt, disobey, walks and talks” with the and hide from their past experience. Creator should have been maintained for all eternity. Tragically, Adam and Eve began to think independently and eventually they put out of their minds God’s truth. They even tried to distance themselves from God by hiding themselves among the trees. A Modern Period And so it is today, Adventists too have been hiding. We too have turned away from the daily “walks and talks” with our Creator. We too are afraid and ashamed of certain aspects of the Seventh-day Adventist faith. We too have put out of our minds how we previously thought. In this modern era we have distanced ourselves from historic Adventism—the mission and message of the Great Second Advent Movement that was founded right after 1844. “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 During the rise of the Christian Church a for the last fifty more deceptive medium was introduced— years would be wolves in the form of preachers came in and accounted as er- caused many to depart from the faith. “For I ror.” Selected know this, that after my departing shall grievMessages, Vol. 1, ous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” Acts 20:29. p. 204. Just like in Paul’s day a similar experience is happening in this modern era: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” 1 Tim. 4:1, 2. The leaders of this work have disguised this departure of the faith. They call it “advances in contemporary religious thought.” They describe their work as a rebirth of learning not locked in on the old ways. There are those in Adventism who are proclaiming a “Declaration of Independence” and are breaking away from the original systems, methods, and ideas. “Satan has devised a state of things whereby the proclamation of the third angel’s message shall be bound about. We must beware of his plans and methods. There must be no toning down of the truth, no muffling of the message for this time. The third angel's message must be strengthened and confirmed. The eighteenth chapter of Revelation reveals the importance of presenting the truth in no measured terms but with boldness and power.... There has been too much beating about the bush in the proclamation of the third angel's message.” Evangelism, p. 230. Who is behind the reasons for why we are breaking free from our past. No longer do we hear commentaries or affirmations on previously published work of historic Adventism. Today modern thinkers are flooding the church with new discourses and dissertations that present historic Adventism as the “old systems” which we need to break free from. They want a new beginning, not dependent upon the past. They teach that the old ways are narrow and limit our understanding of truth. This new rationalism will divorce you from the truth and will divorce the church from its past history. This reasoning is separating God’s people from our historical beliefs. It is causing many to despise and hate our past experience. Would God today inquire of us the same line of questioning as He did to Adam when he asked, “Who told thee that thou was naked?” Notice the similar, straightforward questions being presented to us through the Spirit of Prophecy: “Shall any man sell our peculiar characteristics as God’s chosen people for any advantage the world has to give? Shall the favor of those who transgress the law of God be looked upon as of great value? Shall those whom the Lord has named His people suppose that there is any power higher than the great I AM? Shall we endeavor to blot out the distinguishing points of faith that have made us Seventh-day Adventists?” Evangelism, p. 121. Why are we losing the historic aspects of our movement? Where has it gone? Who took it? And how did they take it? What was and is our true history? How is our history being wiped out? What did Seventhday Adventists believe and what was their burden for the world before “our religion was changed.” When did ecumenism come in? How did celebration come? Who brought in —continued on page 5
the eternal gospel herald — volume 5, no. 4
page 5
—continued from page 4 “Hate Historic Adventism”
—continued from page 1 “Oakwood Melee”
the New Theology which is really not new because it is as old as the first deception that started from the Garden of Eden. These things were never part of the movement from its inception.
Johnson. Officials at the small school had no immediate comment.
Our only safety is to know who we are and what we are supposed to believe. What made us who we are, “Many will stand in our pulpits with the Seventh-day Advent- torch of false prophecy in their hands, kinists? What are the pil- dled from the hellish torch of Satan.” Testilars of Seventh-day monies to Ministers, p. 209, 210. Adventism? What makes us peculiar? Do we really know how this movement was founded? Do we know the mission? What did we used to preach? What was the urgency of our message? What did our pioneers dedicate their lives to? Under which hope did they die? “In the future, deception of every kind is to arise, and we want solid ground for our feet. We want solid pillars for the building. Not one pin is to be removed from that which the Lord has established. The enemy will bring in false theories...This is one of the points on which there will be a departing from the faith.” Maranatha, p. 192. It is the great enemy of truth who hates true, historic Seventh-day Adventism. He hates and persecutes those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus, the Spirit of Prophecy (Rev. 12:17; 19:10). He hates those who own the Crucified One as their Savior. He hates the pillars of our faith. He hates the distinctive messages that are being preached by faithful ministers. He hates those who stand against him and his antichrist system. He hates those who do not yield to his authority or who do not unite with his apostates. And in the same manner as he caused Adam and Eve to lose their previous position at the beginning, he is even more determined to cause you and I to lose our standing during the time of the end, being that he has just a little time left. Don’t buy into the devil’s decep- “Then there will be a removing of the landtions. He is a wolf and marks, and an attempt to tear down the he intends on making pillars of our faith.” Maranatha, p. 189. you his meal. We need to build new bridges in our minds that will bring us back to the way in which the Lord has led his Seventh-day Adventist people. Once God’s people are able to bring their minds in contact with our historic message, and once we embrace them and proclaim them with all our hearts—then the work will be finished and cut short in righteousness and there will be nothing the devil can do to stop the work. Now, before you ask why historic Seventh-day Adventists are an “oldtime,” “strange,” “backwoods,” “fringe message,” that is out of the mainstream—first ask yourself: Who taught you to hate being what God has made us? Who taught you to love the whole world and yet to hate yourself? Has the devil tricked us to love him, to love his churches, his beliefs, and his deceptions, and at the same time—to hate ourselves, our past, and our beliefs? These are serious questions that we must consider because in the day of judgment God just might ask you, “Who told you to hate historic Adventism?”
Johnson said officers were at the Oakwood gymnasium for a basketball game when a fight broke out between two women about 11:45 p.m. Saturday. One of the women was arrested and placed inside a police car. "That's when several hundred individuals circled a Huntsville police car trying to get the girl out of the police car," he said. With students beating and rocking the car, Johnson said the officer sprayed a chemical irritant into the crowd in an attempt to get people to leave. Other officers arrived as a backup, he said. Oakwood administrators held a closed-door meeting with students on Sunday, but neither President Delbert W. Baker nor a school spokeswoman immediately returned messages seeking comment. Oakwood, a private school affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist church, has 1,824 students. It plans to change its name to Oakwood University on Jan. 1. —continued from page 1 “Adventist Mayor” he was asked to officiate at the ceremony for Ryan Bunch and Micah Mahjoubian, a longtime colleague, on Saturday at City Hall. "Micah is my friend. He has been in my campaign and has been in my administration for eight years," Street said. "I've come to respect him as a person, and if this is something he would like for me to do, then I'd like to do it for him." About 125 guests are expected at the ceremony, which will have no legal weight since Pennsylvania prohibits gay marriage. "It's not marriage. It's not real marriage. They can't be married," said Street, a Seventhday Adventist. "It's not a religious ceremony. I mean, it's not really marriage." As City Council president through most of the 1990s, Street strongly opposed legislation to provide benefits to same-sex partners of city employees. It eventually passed. But many gay activists said that once Street became mayor, he reached out to the gay community. He formed a commission on sexual minorities, held a fundraiser for a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community center and spoke at the dedication ceremony for a historical marker recognizing the work of gay and lesbian activists.
page 6 the eternal gospel herald — volume 5, no. 4 —continued from page 1 “Medieval Catholicism” tradition. The Latin Mass creates two classes in the church and separates the laity from the clergy. The Council of Trent [15451563] established the traditional Catholic teaching that the Mass is the same, necessary, atoning sacrifice of Calvary being offered continually. In contrast, Protestants argue that Hebrews 7:27, which contrasts the Old Testament priests who needed to make a sacrifice for sins on a regular basis with the true High Priest, Christ, who only offers his body once as an atoning sacrifice for sin. [See also Hebrews 9:26 and Hebrews 10:10.] Papal Supremacy / Combating Protestant and Orthodox Churches—On July 10, 2007, a few days after restoring the ancient Latin mass, the Vatican reaffirmed another 16th Century medieval teaching on papal supremacy over all of Christendom. The 16-page document published by Rome stated that Orthodox churches are wounded and that Protestants are not true churches because they do not recognize the primacy of the pope. Rome basically “unchurched” and “excommunicated” every religious denomination that does not recognize the Pope as the head of the church. These are the same issues that were at the heart of the Reformation. As Protestants we must continue to uphold that Christ is the only true head of the church and not the pope. Sunday Sacredness—Pope Benedict XVI has been an ardent proponent of Sunday sacredness. On three different occasions that we are aware of he has been pushing for Sunday-keeping to both religious communities and to the secular public. In his closing Homily at the 24th Italian National Eucharistic Congress, Sunday, May 29, 2005 Pope Benedict XVI stated: “Sine dominico non possumus, that is, we cannot live without joining together on Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist. We would lack the strength to face our daily problems and not to succumb…” Later in Pope Benedict XVI, Apostolic Exhortation SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS, February 22, 2007 we read: “ To lose a sense of Sunday as the Lord's Day, a day to be sanctified, is symptomatic of the loss of an authentic sense of Christian freedom, the freedom of the children of God...Sunday thus appears as the primordial holy day, when all believers, wherever they are found, can become heralds and guardians of the true meaning of time...Finally, it is particularly urgent nowadays to remember that the day of the Lord is also a day of rest from work. It is greatly to be hoped that this fact will also be recognized by civil society, so that individuals can be permitted to refrain from work without being penalized. Most recently on September 9, 2007 during the Homily of Pope Benedict XVI, “Solemn Eucharist,” at the Saint Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna he said: “Without the Lord and without the day that belongs to him, life does not flourish. Sunday has been transformed in our Western societies into the week-end, into leisure time. Leisure time is certainly something good and necessary, especially amid the mad rush of the modern world. Yet if leisure time lacks an inner focus, an overall sense of direction, then ultimately it becomes wasted time that neither strengthens nor builds us up. Leisure time requires a focus – the encounter with him who is our origin and goal...Give the soul its Sunday, give Sunday its soul.” Aggressive Politics—On a May 9, 2007 flight from Rome to Brazil, Pope Benedict XVI has stated that Catholic politicians in Mexico who were supporting abortion had “excommunicated themselves” from the church and could therefore be denied the Holy Communion. This is a threat to every Catholic politician throughout the world: “If you deviate from Catholic moral teaching you are going to hell.” Pope Benedict XVI seems to want to bring serious penalties to those who disobey the doctrine of the church—especially to those who are our lawmakers. Combating Muslims—During a lecture at the University of Regensburg in Germany on September 12, 2006, Benedict XVI ignited a firestorm of controversy around the world when he quoted an ancient Byzantine Emperor during his lecture: “Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.” Combating Atheism—On November 30, 2007 Benedict XVI issued a new papal encyclical entitled “Spe Salvi.” In it he said that atheism was responsible for some of the “greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice” in history. Questionable Language—In a November 25, 2007, Associated Press article entitled “Pope Elevates Archbishop Foley To Cardinal” we read the following: “Pope Benedict XVI elevated 23 churchmen from around the world to the top ranks of the Catholic Church hierarchy Saturday, telling them they must be willing to shed their blood to spread the Christian faith...He told them that the red signifies the dignity of their new office and that they must be ready to work, ‘even —continued on page 7
—continued from page 1 “Why We Cannot Join” and call on men to be obedient can there be any Advent Movement. Let us never forget that most primary fact. Otherwise our evangelistic preaching would produce only Sabbathkeeping Methodists, sanctuary-believing Presbyterians, and state-of-the-dead-believing Baptists; and so we might go on. But the Advent people are one people—because we have come out. Pray tell, what else could we do but come out? Political ideas may set men apart in the world of political parties, but it is doctrinal ideas that set men apart in the world of religion. At the heart of the ecumenical movement is the policy to soft-pedal what its communicants cannot agree on. How else could such a movement gain cohesion or make progress at all? At the very heart of the Advent Movement is the conviction that we should emphasize our distinctive doctrines. Is not this in large part the explanation for our growth? True, we hold certain prime Christian doctrines in common with all other Christian people, but let us never forget that it is not our theological points of agreement but our points of difference that justify our existence as a separate people. And it is only as we keep these points of difference clear that we protect against blurring out the edges of Adventism in a disordered world. It is to us an idea abhorrent and impossible that one should be able gradually to move from the Adventist faith into some other faith. To anyone among us who would say, Let’s join the ecumenical movement, we would ask: How do you understand the second angel’s message, a message that is in the center of the threefold message, which is the prime justification for our existence? If ever there was a people who must stand alone, it is the people who believe in the second angel’s message, a message that must be understood in the larger context of Revelation 18:4. For anyone to say, Let’s join the ecumenical movement and go along with it until we are forced to leave is really to say, Let us operate within the fold of ecumenism, as long as we can, a program that is the very antithesis of what that movement stands for. We all know that the day is coming when Adventists will be denounced for their beliefs, but let not that denunciation include the charge that we are deceitful. God forbid! Someone in the ecumenical movement may say to us, Come, join; you can still keep your Sabbath. They have said precisely that to us when we have sat as a reporter at their major meetings. Undoubtedly, we still could keep the Sabbath, and for some indefinite time into the future. But we should remember that we are not only to keep the Sabbath but to proclaim it, to seek to persuade others to keep it also. But why labor the point? Seventh-day Adventists simply cannot be a part of the ecumenical movement. The Adventist who does not realize that we must stand alone has not really grasped what the genius of the Advent Movement is. Really, the ecumenical movement is a challenge to us to sharpen and strengthen our reasons for the existence of Adventism as a distinct and separate religious force in the world. It is true today in a way that it never was before, that we must be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is within us. If we are not prepared to give good reasons why we should stand alone, then what reason can we give for not yoking up with the ecumenical movement? That is the question that churchmen would finally ask us. Either God has called out a special people with a special message in the last days or He has not. The answer to that question decides our whole religious program for the future; indeed, decides the fate of the Advent Movement. If we do not believe that God has called out a people, a remnant people (Rev. 12:17), who are uniquely His own as an organized movement, then why should we stand out against the appeal of ecumenicity, an appeal to join one great church? Finally, the ecumenical movement should make us more conscious than ever before of the times in which we live. The end is near. Read the closing chapters of The Great Controversy and let that conviction roll upon you again. It is the uniting of the great religious bodies that makes possible the final conflict. And in that conflict we cannot be ecumenical.
the eternal gospel herald — volume 5, no. 4 page 7
Incarnation - Was Christ Exempt? by M. L. Andreasen We read with astonishment and perplexity, mingled with sorrow, the false statement in Questions on Doctrine, p. 383, that Christ was “exempt from the inherited passions and pollutions that corrupt the natural descendants of Adam.” To appreciate the import of this assertion, we need to define “exempt” and “passions.” The College Standard Dictionary defines “exempt”: “To free or excuse from some burdensome obligation; free, clear or excuse from some restriction or burden.” Webster’s New World Dictionary, College Edition defines exempt: “to take out, deliver, set free as from a rule which others must observe; excuse, release. . . freed from a rule, obligation, etc., which binds others; excused, released. . . exemption implies a release from some obligation or legal requirement, especially when others are not so released.”
M. L. Andreasen was the President of the first Adventist theological seminary.
“Passion” is defined: “originally suffering or agony. . . any of the emotions as hate, grief, love, fear, joy; the agony and sufferings of Jesus during the crucifixion or during the period following the Last Supper. Passion usually implies a strong emotion that has an overpowering or compelling effect.” Passion is an inclusive word. While originally it has reference to sorrow, suffering, agony, it is not confined to these meanings nor to passions of the flesh only, but includes all man's emotions as mentioned above, as well as anger, sorrow, hunger, pity; it includes, in fact, all temptations that incite men to action. To take these emotions away from a man, to exempt him from all temptation, results in a creature less than a man, a kind of no-man, a shadow man, a non-entity, which Markham calls a “brother to the ox.” Temptations are the character building ingredients of life for good or ill, as man reacts to them. If Christ was exempt from the passions of mankind, He was different from other men, none of whom is so exempt. Such teaching is tragic, and completely contrary to what Seventh-day Adventists have always taught and believed. Christ came as a man among men, asking no favors and receiving no special consideration. According to the terms of the covenant He was not to receive any help from God not available to any other man. This was a necessary condition if His demonstration was to be of any value and His work acceptable. The least deviation from this rule would invalidate the experiment, nullify the agreement, void the covenant, and effectively destroy all hope for man. Satan’s contention has always been that God is unjust in requiring men to keep the law, and doubly unjust in punishing them for not doing what cannot be done, and what no one has ever done. His claim is that God ought at least to make a demonstration to show that it can be done, and done under the same conditions to which men are subject. Noah, Job, Abraham, David—all were good men, but all failed to come up to God's high standard. “All men have sinned,” says Paul. Romans 3:23. God was not moved by Satan’s challenge; for long before, even from eternity, God had decided upon His course of action. Accordingly, when the time came, God sent “His own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, and condemned sin in the flesh.” Romans 8:3. Christ did not condone sin in the flesh; He condemned it, and in so doing upheld the power and authority of the law. By dying on the cross He further enforced the law by paying the penalty required for its transgression, and upheld the infliction of its penalty by paying its demand, He was now in position to forgive without being accused of ignoring the law or setting it aside. When it became evident that God intended to send His Son and in Him demonstrate that man can keep the law, Satan knew that this would constitute the crisis, and that he must overcome Christ or perish. One thing greatly concerned him; would Christ come to this earth as a man with the limitations, weaknesses and infirmities which men had brought upon themselves because of excesses? If so, Satan believed he might overcome Him. If God should exempt Him from the passions that corrupt the natural descendants of Adam, he could claim that God played favorites, and the test was invalid. In the following quotations we have God’s answer: “God permitted His Son to come, a helpless babe, subject to the weakness of humanity. He permitted Him to meet life’s perils in common with every human soul, to fight the battle as every child of humanity must fight it, at the risk of failure and eternal loss.” -Desire of Ages, p. 49. “Many claim that it was impossible for Christ to be overcome by temptation. Then He could not have been placed in Adam’s position. . . .Our Saviour took humanity with all its liabilities. He took the nature of man with the possibility of yielding to temptation.” --Ibid., p. 117. “The temptations to which Christ was subject were a terrible reality. As a free agent He was placed on probation with liberty to yield to Satan’s temptations and work at cross purposes with God. If this were not so, if it had not
—continued from page 6 “Medieval Catholicism” to the point of spilling your blood, for the increase of the Christian faith, for peace and harmony among the people of God, for freedom and the spread of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.’ ” Pope Benedict XVI was elected in April of 2005. In his short reign, not even three years, he has attacked Protestants, he has attacked the Orthodox churches, he has attacked the Muslims, he has attacked the Atheists, he has attacked politicians, he has pushed for Sunday Laws, and he has told his cardinals to be prepared to shed their blood to defend the church and to spread the Catholic faith. Is he preparing his cardinals for another Holy Inquisition? That kind of language evokes a medieval imagery of a Crusade—blood, guts, and all. It certainly sounds like he is on a mission to restore Rome to her former power.
“Let the restraints now imposed by secular governments be removed and Rome be reinstated in her former power, and there would speedily be a revival of her tyranny and persecution.” Great Controversy, p. 564. Brethren, we had better wake up. There is no time to lose. Would to God that we too could return to our historical roots and restore the Seventhday Adventist movement back to its former glory and beauty so that our work could be cut short in righteousness and so that our Christ may come and take us home.
—The Editors been possible for Him to fall, He could not have been tempted in all points as the human family is tempted.” Youth’s Instructor, Oct. 28, 1899. “When Adam was assailed by the tempter, none of the effects of sin were upon him. He stood in the strength of perfect manhood, possessing the full vigor of mind and body. . . It was not thus with Jesus when He entered the wilderness to cope with Satan. For four thousand years the race had been decreasing in physical strength, in mental power, in moral worth; and Christ took upon Him the infirmities of degenerate humanity. Only thus could He rescue man from the lowest depth of his degradation.” Desire of Ages, p. 117. Christ “vanquished Satan in the same nature over which Satan obtained the victory. The enemy was overcome by Christ in His human nature. The power of the Saviour's Godhead was hidden. He overcame in human nature relying upon God for power. This is the privilege of all.” Youths Instructor, April 25, 1901. “Letters have been coming in to me, affirming that Christ could not have had the same nature as man, for if He had, He would have fallen under similar temptations. If He did not have man's nature, He could not be our example. If He was not a partaker of our nature, He could not have been tempted as man has been. If it were not possible for Him to yield to temptations, He could not be our helper. It was a solemn reality that Christ came to fight the battle as man, in man's behalf. His temptation and victory tell us that humanity must copy the Pattern; men must become a partaker of the divine nature.” Review and Herald, Feb. 18, 1890. “Christ bore the sins and infirmities of the race as they existed when He came to the earth to help man. . He took human nature, and bore the infirmities of the degenerate race.” The Temptations of Christ, pp. 30, 31. If Christ had been exempt from passions, He would have been unable to understand or help mankind. It, therefore, behoved Him “in all things to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest. . . for in that He Himself hath suffered, being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted.” Hebrews 2:17,18. A Savior who has never been tempted, never has had to battle with passions, who has never “offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him who was able to save Him from death,” who “though He were a son” never learned obedience by the things He suffered, but was “exempt” from the very things that a true Savior must experience: such a savior is what this new theology offers us. It is not the kind of Savior I need, nor the world. One who has never struggled with passions can have no understanding of their power, nor has he ever had the joy of overcoming them. If God extended special favors and exemptions to Christ, in that very act He disqualified Him for His work. There can be no heresy more harmful than that here discussed. It has taken away the Savior I have known and substitutes for Him a weak personality, not considered by God capable of resisting and conquering the passions which He asks men to overcome. It is, of course, patent to all, that no one can claim to believe the Testimonies and also believe in the new theology that Christ was exempt from human passions. It is one thing or the other. The denomination is now called upon to decide. To accept the teaching of Questions on Doctrine necessitates giving up faith in the Gift God has given this people.
page 8 the eternal gospel herald — volume 5, no. 4 —continued from page 1 “Don’t Let it Happen” 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.
“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 After announcing his retirement, Robert H. Pierson reformation would consist in giving up the made a poignant appeal to the leaders of the church doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganizanot to permit the church to go into secularism and tion. Were this reformation to take place, what modernism—the way so many church bodies have gone. In his audience were members of the General would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant In the third generation, organization develops Conference Committee. church, would be discarded. Our religion and institutions are established. The need is would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work 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 for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization time the standards of membership are being lowered. The group becomes would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of lax about disfellowshipping nonpracticing members. Missionary zeal cools intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders of this system off. There is more concern over public relations. Leaders study methods of would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of course, propagating their faith, sometimes employing extrinsic rewards as motiva- would be lightly regarded, as also the God Who created it. Nothing would tion for service by members. Youth question why they are different from 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 others, and intermarry with those not of their faith. place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthIn the fourth generation there is much machinery; the number of adminis- less” (Selected Messages, bk. 1, pp. 204, 205). trators increases while the number of workers at the grass roots becomes proportionately less. Great church councils are held to define doctrine. The Seventh-day Adventist Church had its alpha years ago. You and I are More schools, universities, and seminaries are established. These go to the the leaders who will face the omega that will be of the same subtle, devilish world for accreditation and tend to become secularized. There is a reexami- origin. Its effect will be more devastating than the alpha. Brethren, I beg of nation of positions and modernizing of methods. Attention is given to con- you, study, know what is ahead, then with God’s help prepare your people temporary culture, with an interest in the arts: music, architecture, litera- to meet it! ture. The movement seeks to become “relevant” to contemporary society by “God calls for men who are prepared to meet emergencies, men who in a becoming involved in popular causes. Services become formal. The group crisis will not be found standing on the wrong side” (Review and Herald, enjoys complete acceptance by the world. The sect has become a church! November 5, 1903). Brethren and sisters, this must never 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, bk. 2, p. 391). And in Ezekiel 22:30 we read,
“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 collision, 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, bk. 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, bk. 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.
the eternal gospel herald — volume 5, no. 4 page 9
Adventist Owned Florida Hospital & Walt Disney Sign $10Million Merger Florida Children’s Hospital and Disney Unite to Create Magical Pediatric Hospital Wednesday September 19, 2007, Florida Hospital Press Room www.floridahospitalmedicalnews.com While The Walt Disney Company has long supported children’s hospitals both locally and around the world, Florida Children’s Hospital will become the first hospital in history to bear the Disney name. The official name of the hospital will be announced at a later date. “This contribution is part of our ongoing commitment to making dreams come true for the children of Central Florida,” said Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “Even during uncertain times, children want and need to play, to exercise their imaginations, and to dream. At Disney, we thrive on that kind of imaginative energy, and we hope to bring some of that same spirit to this special Seventh-day Adventist executive and president of Florida Hospiplace that will provide care for the children of our community.” tal, Lars Houmann [Left] with Al Weiss, CEO of Walt Disney During the ceremony this morning, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, as Parks and Resorts, [right] sign the $10 million naming-rights well as a former 10-year-old patient of the hospital and his mother, zoomed agreement that will make Florida Hospital the first to bear the in on a 1920s Cadillac from the “Stars and Motor Cars” parade at Disney- Disney name. Notice on the back: “Magical Children’s Hospital.” MGM Studios to help Florida Hospital and Disney cement their partnership. Mickey and Minnie, officials from both organizations, and special guests placed their hands in cement to symbolize the start of construction on the site at Florida Children’s Hospital. “Florida Children’s Hospital has been caring for the children of Central Florida for almost 100 years,” said Lars Houmann, president of Florida Hospital, which runs Florida Children’s Hospital. “A few miles from here, Disney has been equally passionate about making dreams come true for children here at home and around the world. Together, we are building a children’s hospital that we hope will establish a new model of healthcare throughout our community and beyond.” Florida Hospital depends on the generous philanthropy of individuals and organizations to continue to meet the healthcare needs of the patients it serves, and Disney’s contribution stands as one of the largest in the hospital’s history.
Walt Disney President Meg Crofton, Minnie Mouse, Mickey “We are privileged to accept this gift from The Walt Disney Com- Mouse, and a former Florida Hospital patient share a moment. pany. Combining Disney’s imagination and creativity with the healing hands of Florida Children’s Hospital physicians and other healthcare personnel will truly make this a very special place for our patients and their families,” said Des Cummings, president of Florida Hospital Foundation. As part of the celebration, Florida Hospital and Walt Disney World Resort honored the organizations’ long-standing relationship. “For more than two decades, we have worked with Florida Hospital on a number of projects that have benefited Central Florida residents, Disney Cast Members and guests from around the world,” said Al Weiss, president of Worldwide Operations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “Today, we’re honoring the expansion of our partnership and the promise of healing and hope it brings to the families Florida Children’s Hospital will serve.” Construction on the seven-story, 200-bed facility is expected to be complete in 2010 and will serve the Central Florida community and the almost 50 million visitors who come to Orlando each year.
The relationship has been cemented between Mickey Mouse and “This partnership with Disney is blending our two areas of expertise: the our church leaders. Look at whose handprint has sealed the deal. healing hands of Florida Children’s Hospital and the imagination and creativity of Disney,” said Marla Silliman, administrator of Florida Children’s Hospital. “By bringing them together, we are creating an environment in which even the sickest children can experience joy and happiness while they are in the hospital.” “This is not the Lord’s plan. You are not to unite with unbelievers in medical work.” Medical Missionary, p. 45. “Those whose work it is to labor for the salvation of souls must keep themselves free from worldly policy plans. They must not, for the sake of obtaining the influence of someone who is wealthy, become entangled in plans dishonoring to their profession of faith. They must not sell their souls for financial advantage.” Counsels on Health, p. 271. “If a worldly influence is to bear sway...then sell it out to worldlings, and let them take the entire control.” Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 25.
Dick Batchelor, chairman of Florida Hospital Foundation’s Executive Board talk with Meg Crofton and Al Weiss.
page 10 the eternal gospel herald — volume 5, no. 4 —continued from page 3 “Protestant Reformation” What we have in Protestantism and even in Adventism is a crisis of authority. The exact same crisis that Luther faced is being repeated today. We have rejected the Protestant principle on the final authority for God’s people? For Luther everything stood under the judgment of the Scriptures, and he would use the scriptures to judge the church, the church teachings, and even the pope. “But God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms. The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science, the creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the majority--not one nor all of these should be regarded as evidence for or against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain ‘Thus saith the Lord’ in its support.” The Great Controversy, p. 595. Sola Fide / Faith Alone Luther’s declaration of Sola Fide or “faith alone” was his attempt to challenge the Roman Catholic practice of expensive indulgences, rigorous penance, numerous sacraments, and the mediation of a human priesthood. Luther’s position was that forgiveness for sin was on the basis of God’s grace through the believer’s faith—alone. Even though “faith alone” was to separate faith from all the human machinery and tradition of his day, Luther never intended for the doctrine of “faith alone” to be completely autonomous from the rest of the word of God. For example, according to the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica, Luther coined the term “antinomian” [against the law] and applied it to those who took the doctrine of “faith alone” to an unbiblical, radical position of destroying the relationship between the law and the gospel. Justification by faith alone was being interpreted as a license to sin by some who were antagonistic towards the 10 Commandments. Melanchthon, Luther’s associate, taught that “repentance must precede faith, and that knowledge of the moral law is needed to produce repentance (Rom 7:7).” Encyclopedia Britannica, 1911 Editions, Article: Antinomians, www.1911encyclopedia.org Indeed, true living faith will be demonstrated by good deeds (James 2:14-26). Even though these good deeds do not “save” the individual, they are the evidence and fruit of true, genuine faith in Christ. “Grace is unmerited favor, and the believer is justified without any merit of his own, without any claim to offer to God. He is justified through the redemption of Christ Jesus, who stands in the courts of heaven as the sinner’s substitute and surety. But while he is justified because of the merit of Christ, he is not free to work unrighteousness. Faith works by love and purifies the soul. Faith buds and blossoms and bears a harvest of precious fruit. Where faith is, good works appear.” God’s Amazing Grace, p. 182. There is another point that Protestants are rejecting with regards to “faith alone.” There is an inherent relationship between faith and the word of God that cannot be ignored. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Rom. 10:17. It is God’s spoken word that establishes a foundation for faith to be exercised. When Jesus told Peter that he could walk on water, it was Christ’s words that authorized Peter to exercise faith. When God has declared a promise in His word, it is only then that that promise becomes the basis for true faith to exist. This is something that has become a stumbling block within Protestantism. How can we have faith in Sunday when the Bible is silent about worshiping on that day? How can we exercise faith on the foundation of erroneous theories? How can we have faith in something that God has not spoken of? And if its not in the Bible, it is not of faith and thereby it becomes dead works and even sin. “For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Rom. 14:23. Protestants today have embraced serious theological errors that are not supported by the word of God: eternal torment in hell, non-immortality of the soul, Sunday sacredness, secret rapture, original sin, predestination, etc. By doing so they are rejecting the pillars of the Protestant Reformation of “sola fide” and “sola scriptura.” Contemporary Adventism too has embraced quite a few of these Evangelical errors. On the other hand, historic Seventh-day Adventism has been established point by point by the Holy Spirit and can be substantiated with a plain, “Thus saith the Lord” in its support. Allgemeines Priestertum / The General Priesthood The General Priesthood is more commonly known as the Priesthood of all believers. Martin Luther’s 95 Thesis was an attack against the idea
that God’s salvation for humanity was mediated by a human priesthood through means of the sacraments. These sacraments were offered by Rome for a hefty fee. This Sacerdotal system perpetuated an idea that mankind is not good enough to approach God. Luther stated in his 95 Thesis that every true contrite Christian could approach Christ by themselves without any letters of pardon from the church. He also stated that everyone who trusts in Jesus Christ is a true priest. And that if we have Christ, Luther went on to say, we have all things that are Christ’s and can do all things with Christ alone. This answers a most serious question that we as Seventh-day Adventists are facing, and that is, “The souls which we bring to Christ, are we teaching them to stand in Christ alone and to do all things by Christ alone? And do we have Christ—and all things that are Christ’s—and do we do all things with Christ alone?” The time of trouble that is coming will require each of us, personally, to stand in Christ alone. The church will not be there to hold your hand through the times which are coming. It is Christ who will sustain us in the days ahead. Our friends and family may or may not be able to help. Our faith will be tested and tried and unless we have learned to stand in Christ alone, I don’t believe that we are going to make it. Luther, Paul, Elijah, Moses, Daniel, and many others had to all learn this lesson. Papa est Antichristi / The Pope is Antichrist Many Protestants today believe that the characterization of the pope as Antichrist is clearly unchristian and hateful. Many of these so-called questionable characterizations have been used throughout the Bible at different times. The Bible describes the son of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas two priests who ministered in the temple, as the “sons of Belial” (1 Sam. 2:12). That term “Belial” literally means worthless and wicked. If you read the entire chapter you will see that their sins, extortion and fornication inside the temple, were “very great before the Lord.” Likewise, Paul passed judgment upon the false apostles of his day. “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.” 2 Cor. 11:13. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit Paul warned the church against these “false” ministers of Satan that were in the church. (Read verses 14 and 15). Did the Holy Spirit reveal this to him so that he could be unchristian and hateful? Of course not. Paul expressed the strong conviction called “righteous jealousy.” “For I am jealous over you with godly jealously...I fear, least by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtility, so your minds should be corrupted.” 2 Cor. 11:2, 3. What he did was done in order to vindicate the glory of Christ’s truth and to preserve the honor of God among the faithful. In fact there is a Divine judgment which rests upon those who corrupt the gospel of Christ. “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Gal. 1:8. When elements within the church participate in criminal behavior I don’t believe that the offenders have the moral right to question the characterization which God chooses to use when pointing out their sins. The real “troublers of Israel” are those who are behaving criminally and not the ones bringing clarity to the reality of the situation which the church is in. In this same way, as Martin Luther grew in his understanding and appreciation of the Gospel and the Scriptures, he also grew in his recognition that the Papacy was the Antichrist. This was becoming more clear to him as his understanding of truth became clearer. Luther was opposed to the arrogant claims of papal infallibility, a teaching in which the pope presumes to have greater authority than the Bible in religious matters. Luther’s battle was with the “ex cathedra” or the seat/chair of the papacy which states that papal proclamations “ex cathedra” are preserved by the Holy Spirit from any possibility of error. And to resist any papal proclamation is to resist the Holy Spirit. Luther responded with his own proclamation: “Spiritus Antichristi est Papa” or “this spirit of the papacy is the spirit of Antichrist.” The spirit implied by Luther was the spirit of arrogance which he believed was usurping the Spirit of Christ. Luther’s battle was not so much with the rank and file members of the church. He was not anti-Catholic. He was anti-papal. He rejected the claims of the Papacy and its authority. There is no doubt that Luther’s position on the Antichrist was and is controversial. Who would dare make these statements today, publicly, that the pope is the Antichrist? Almost all —continued on page 12
the eternal gospel herald — volume 5, no. 4 page 11 —continued from page 3 “Antichrist Exposed” points concerning the Antichrist were given in the Bible hundreds of years before he came upon the scene. 1. “Location, the place of its rise, would be in Western Europe.” 2. “Time, the time of its rise, would be in 538AD.” 3. “Ancestry, the ancestry would be part of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome.” 4. “Predecessor, it would proceed out of Pagan Rome.” 5. “Capital, it would be located in Rome.” 6. “Strength, it would have great power and authority.” 7. “Reign, it would reign for 1260 years.” 8. “Ruler, it would be ruled by a type of a King.” 9. “Character, it would be a Religious power.” 10. “Government, it would be a union of Church and State.” 11. “Blasphemies, it would speak against the Most High and think to change times and laws.” 12. “Intolerance, it would be a persecuting power against God’s people.” 13. “Destruction, it would be wounded @ the end of 1260 years, {1798}.” 14. “Restoration, it then would have its power restored back, {the union of church and state.} 15. “Influence, it would then be a universal power.” 16. “Followers, all the world would become his followers.” 17. “Name, it would have the name Vicarius Filii Dei.” 18. “Number, the number of his name will be 666.” 19. “Image, it will have an image made to His power, { Apostate Protestantism.} 20. “Mark, it will have a mark of his power, think to change laws, Sabbath to Sunday, can’t buy or sell.” 21. “End, he will come to his end at the second coming of Christ, and will be eternally destroyed.” Daniel has also given to us 9 detailed specifications about the Antichrist, Dan. 8:10-12, 23-25. 1. “He waxed great against heaven.” 2. “He magnified himself against Jesus, in his heart, and he shall stand up against Jesus.” 3. “The all sufficient sacrifice of Jesus will be taken away, and a counterfeit sacrifice put in its place.” 4. “This power will cast down the truth to the ground.” 5. “It will practice and prosper for 1260 years.” 6. “His power shall be mighty upon the earth.” 7. “He will destroy greatly {persecute God’s people}, and by peace he shall destroy many.” 8. “Through his policy he will prosper, magnify himself in his heart, and stand up against Jesus.” 9. “But he will come to an end at the second coming of Jesus.” Has God not revealed to us much about this Antichrist power, thru Daniel, Paul and John ? YES, God has not left us in the dark about who this Antichrist power is. The plain fact is that this system represented by the little horn with eyes -a man of sin – this beast power is none other than the Roman Catholic Church System. Now let us look at some History to see how the Protestant churches viewed the Antichrist. The Waldenses, Wyclife, the Huguenots, Zwingli, Ridley, Bengel, the Albigenses, John Gill, Luther, the Hussities, Cramer, John Knox, John Huss, Tyndale, John Calvin, Jerome, Latimer, and John Wesley, only to name a few who all knew who the Antichrist was, they all knew it would be a religio-political power, a union of Church and State. These are just a few of the Protestants who taught emphatically that one power and one power only fulfills all of the abundant specifications we find in Bible prophecy, who the Antichrist system is. The one and only power in the history of the world fulfills all of these specifications found in Bible prophecy, and that power is the Roman Catholic Church System. We will give ample official documentary evidence from Roman Catholic sources, by her own official infallible Papal encyclical’s, the Catholic encyclopedia , catechisms and other bona fide church literature , which will more than substantiate through their own writings that they are the Antichrist. Bible Prophecy predicts it, history reveals the fulfillment of it, and Roman Catholicism boastfully confirms it. When various Bible schools during the Reformation times arose proclaiming that the Roman Catholic Church was indeed the Antichrist, the Roman Catholic Church produced two Jesuit priests who put forth two false theories concerning who the Antichrist was, in order to take the spotlight off of herself. One of the priest, Alcazar, put forth what is called the Preteris theory which teaches that the Antichrist was in the
past, before the dark ages. The other priest, Ribera, propounded the Futurists theory that we see so many Protestants hold today, which claimed that the Antichrist would not appear until sometime in the far distant future, at the very end of time, just before Jesus would return to the earth the second time. These two deceptive theories have diverted the minds of people from the Roman Catholic Church to some other type of understanding or organization, either in the past or in the future. Many Protestants today generally accept either one or the other of these two Jesuit theories concerning who the Antichrist is. The papacy was and continues to be an arrogant, blasphemous power today, truly speaking great words against the Most High God. Truly the church of Rome was and continues to be a lawless power in the world today, the true Antichrist. • •
•
It has deleted the second commandment which prohibits the making of or bowing down before any graven images. It has changed the fourth commandment which commands, remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy… the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. It has substituted a fake, counterfeit Sabbath in the place of the true Sabbath Memorial of Creation and our Redemption, Sunday. It has changed 100 teachings in her own Bible, so that she now teaches 100 doctrines which are plainly contrary to the Holy Scriptures.
The Roman Catholic Church System claims to be the one and only true church, but when she teaches contrary to the Holy Bible, is she ?? The Bible says that the true remnant church will be 100% in harmony with the complete Bible. Let us see what the Roman Catholic Church claims about her power in making these changes, by looking at her own statements. “When the ruling empire {Rome} had disintegrated and its place had been taken by a number of rude, barb-arous kingdoms, {Ten Horns} the Roman Catholic Church {Little Horn} not only became independent of the static in religious affairs but dominated all secular affairs as well. {Church & State power} By historian C. C. Eckhart, Papacy and world affairs, page 1. “Pope Vigilius {1st Pope}… ascended the papal chair in 538 A.D. under the military protection of Belisarius.” History of the Christian Church, Vol. 3, page 327 “If the man considers the origin of this great ecclesiastical dominion, he will easily perceive, that the papacy is none other than the ghost of the deceased Roman empire, sitting crowned upon the grave thereof.” By Historian Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan page 457 “Long ages ago when Rome through neglect of the Western emperors, was left to the mercy of the barbarous hordes, the Romans turned to one figure for aid and protection, and asked him to rule them, … and thus commenced the temporal sovereignty of the Popes. And meekly stepping to the throne of Caesar, the Vicar of Christ took up the scepter to which the emperors and the kings of Europe were to bow in reverence through so many ages.” {Church & State} The American Catholic quarterly review, April 1911 “The Vicar of the incarnate son of God, {the Pope} anointed high priest, and supreme temporal ruler the Pope, sat in his tribunal, and partially to judge between nation and nation, between people and prince, between sovereign and subject.” Henri Cardinal Manning, The Temporal Power of the Vicar of Jesus Christ, 1862 page 46 “In 1439 the Council of Florence decreed: “we define, that the Roman Pontiff a successor of the blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles, and the true Vicar of Christ.” Labbe and Cossart, Vol. 13, page 526 “We define that the Holy Apostolic See {the Papacy} holds the primacy over the whole world.” The Most Holy Counsels, Vol. 13, column 1167 “This judicial authority will even include the power to pardon sins.” Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 12, article on Pope, page 265 “Seek where you will, through heaven and earth, and you’ll find one created being who can forgive the sinner, who can free him from the chains of hell. That extraordinary being is the priest, the Roman Catholic priest.” The Catholic priest, page 78 “Thou art a priest forever, says the ordaining Bishop … he is no longer a man, a sinful child of Adam, but an Alter Christus, another Christ … for ever a priest of the most high with power over the Almighty. The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ himself, hidden under the veil of flesh.” The Catholic National, July, 1895 —continued on page 12
page 12 the eternal gospel herald — volume 5, no. 4
We are so glad to report to you that our Florida Camp Meeting in Lake Placid, FL was a great blessing to all of us. We had friends and brethren who came as far as Arkansas, California, South Carolina, Virginia and all throughout Florida. The presence of the Holy Spirit was felt in the meetings. The presentations by Dr. Pandit, Ron Spear, Dennis Simpson, and Raphael Perez were all significant and applicable for the time in which we are living. A total of 13 precious souls made their decision to follow Christ into the baptismal waters. Both Pastor Raphael Perez and Pastor Dennis Simpson took part in baptizing the people. We enjoyed the fellowship of the saints and look forward to having all of you visit us in Florida in the near future. We want to remind all of you that our next camp meeting will take place at our Oklahoma Camp Ground on April 4-6, 2008. Please call and make your reservation so that we can see you there. —The Editors
—continued from page 11 “Antichrist Exposed” “All names which in the Scriptures are applied to Christ, by virtue of which it is established that he is over the church, all the same names are applied to the Pope.” On the Authority of counsels, Vol. page 266 “God himself is obligated to abide by the judgment of his priests, and either not to pardon or to pardon, according as they refuse or give absolution … the sentence of the priest proceeds, and God subscribes to it.” Dignities and Duties of the Priest, vol. 12, page 27 The Pope is of so great dignity and so exalted that he is not a mere man, but as it were God, the Vicar of God … He is likewise, the divine monarch and supreme emperor, and king of kings … So that if it were possible that angels might err in the faith, or might think contrary to the faith, they could be judged and excommunicated by the Pope.” Ferraris Ecclesiastical Dictionary, Article on the Pope. “We hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty.” The Great Encyclical Letters, June 20, 1894 “ We define that the Holy Apostolic See and the Roman Pontiff holds the primacy over the whole world.” Holy Counsels, Vol. 13, column 1167 “The pope has power to change times, to abrogate laws, and to dispense with all things, even the precepts of Christ.” Decretal De Translat, Episcop. Cap. “The Pope can modify divine law.” Prompta Bibliontheca. Papa, article 2 “The Church, … after changing the day of rest from the Jewish Sabbath, or seventh day of the week, to the first, made the third Commandment referred to Sunday as a day to be kept holy as the Lord’s Day.” Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, page 153
—continued from page 10 “Protestant Reformation” of the Protestant churches in the 21st Century have rejected the classical, Protestant view of the Antichrist. Protestants who reject this historical view on Antichrist are undermining the historical foundations of Protestantism. The Reformation would not have happened without the belief that the Pope was and is the Antichrist. If the Pope isn’t the Antichrist then why leave the fellowship of the Roman Catholic Church. What right do we have of being separate—if the reasons for being a Protestant don’t exist anymore. Why did the Protestants “come out”? We own our very existence to the Reformer’s conviction that the pope was the Antichrist. Luther’s view on the Antichrist is almost nonexistent today. It is not a message to be given by the faint hearted. The identification of Antichrist is not politically or ecumenically expedient. It is not socially acceptable. It never has been nor will it ever be. Luther almost lost his life over this. Holding this position today will certainly cause you to stand in Christ all alone from the rest of the churches because it is considered by those who don’t fully understand the Bible as a hate message. What should concern us is not whether these messages are considered loving messages or messages of hate. Our only concern for the positions held by Luther on the Antichrist or on any other Protestant teaching is this: Are they true? And can those teachings be sustained by the Scriptures? Millions of sincere Christians gave their lives for the Protestant faith during the Roman Catholic Inquisition. Are we to imagine that they died in vain? Absolutely not. Can we afford to betray those who gave their lives for our historic faith? Can we afford to betray the God whose hand was guiding the Reformation? We had better not. “If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him; but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him.” 1 Samuel 2:25.
“We observe a Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church in the Council of Laodicea 336AD, transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.” Converts Catechism of Catholic doctrine, page 50 With their own words and history, the Roman Catholic Church has fulfilled Daniel 7, Revelation 13 & 17 and 2Thess. 2:3-11 completely. It came to power in 538AD and was taken into captivity in 1798AD, at the exact time that the Bible said that she would come to power; then rule for 1260 years. It has claimed to changes times and laws. She claims to have the power to forgive the sinner and angels, it persecuted the saints of the Most High, and has exalted herself above God and His throne, thus taking the place of God Himself. This is the true Antichrist of the Bible. {Note:} The word Anti, means in the place of.
Here is our most recent billboard located on a major interstate highway.