EXPOSED: Seven Churches in "Bible Readings for the Home Circle", Part 2
Are the Seven Churches MESSAGES or PERIODS of TIME? We visit the URIAH SMITH MYTHS to find the greatest liars who ever lived would be amazed by the lying going on in Bible Readings for the Home Circle
What we want to do now is to compare the description of the Seven Churches in Bible Readings for the Home Circle with the Spirit of Prophecy and find out how DISTORTED it is.
URIAH SMITH MYTH 1:
That the Seven Churches of Revelation 1-3 apply to SEVEN DISTINCT PERIODS of TIME:
"The seven churches, and the messages addressed to them, apply to seven distinct periods of the Christian church, reaching from the beginning of Christ's public ministry to his second advent." Bible Readings for the Home Circle. [1889] 414.
The SPIRIT OF PROPHECY explains these are "MESSAGES” to “CLASSES” and “THE PEOPLE” not “periods of time.” ALL of the MESSAGES apply ALL of the time.
"The words uttered were NOT ALONE for John on the Isle of Patmos; they were NOT for THE CHURCHES ALONE; but THROUGH these churches was to come the inspired MESSAGE for THE PEOPLE, to have its powerful impression in EVERY AGE to the close of this earth’s history. " Ellen G. White, MS 53, 1890. [1890]
"The Lord has a controversy with those who are ever ready to reprove and to irritate others. We are not to imitate them. Many have excellent qualifications as had THE CLASS [NOT PERIOD!] to whom the True Witness says, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love…" Ellen G. White, Letter 92, 1895. [1895]
"John was instructed to write the THINGS which he HAD SEEN, “and the THINGS which ARE, and the THINGS which SHALL BE [FUTURE!] hereafter; The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars ARE the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest ARE the seven churches.” [Revelation 1:19, 20.]" Ellen G. White, Letter 119, 1895. [1895]
URIAH SMITH MYTH 2:
That "Antipas" was a group killed by Catholics in the 5th Century.
"Antipas comes from two Latin words, anti, opposed to, and papas, father or pope, and denotes a class of people who were opposed to papal supremacy, for which cause they suffered martyrdom during the fifth century." Bible Readings for the Home Circle. [1889] (415)
The SPIRIT OF PROPHECY interprets “Antipas” to mean FAITHFUL WITNESSES who WILL BE [FUTURE!] raised up, and give the LAST “testing message” to the World. They are contrasted with the Synagogue of Satan, by whom they are persecuted and murdered!
“Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.” Verse 16. There WILL BE raised up [FUTURE!] faithful witnesses who will bring forth the words of truth, sharper than any two-edged sword. Their words WILL [FUTURE!] bring in many souls to become true converts to the truth, and men and women WILL go forth [FUTURE!] proclaiming the very message for the last test to the world, in contradistinction to the party who say they are Jews but who are not. God knows. He says their words are blasphemies. They have heeded seducing spirits and are of the synagogue of Satan. Of some, though, dwelling “where Satan’s seat is,” it is said, “Thou holdest fast My name, and has not denied My faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was My faithful martyr who was slain among you where Satan dwelleth.” Ellen G. White, Manuscript 149, 1904. [1904]
Yeowch!
"“And to the angel of the church of Pergamos write; These things saith He which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast My name, and has not denied My faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.” Verses 12, 13. We see that some WILL [FUTURE!] lose their lives for the truth’s sake. False testimonies WILL [FUTURE!] be borne by those who say they are Jews and are not, but lie; and false witness of false professors WILL [FUTURE!] carry out the farce, even to the killing of the righteous." Ellen G. White, Manuscript 149, 1904. [1904]
URIAH SMITH MYTH 3: That the Church of Philadelphia lasted for 11 years, from 1833 to 1844, then miraculously disappeared! Replaced by Laodicea!
"Philadelphia means brotherly love, and applies to that state of the church under the first angel's message." Bible Readings for the Home Circle. [1889] (416)
The SPIRIT OF PROPHECY provides that “Philadelphia”IS the OPEN DOOR Church, that was born in (and not dead by) 1844. And that it is that church which gives the 3rd Message, and goes through.. TO THE END!
"“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that OPENeth, and no man SHUTteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an OPEN DOOR, and NO MAN CAN SHUT IT: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” Revelation 3:7, 8. Thank God today that there *IS* an OPEN DOOR which Satan and HIS AGENTS may SEEK IN VAIN TO CLOSE. The arm of Almighty Power has OPENED this DOOR, and NO OTHER POWER can CLOSE IT. John in holy vision saw a door opened in heaven. “And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ARK of his TESTAMENT.” Looking down the stream of time, the prophet sees A PEOPLE whose attention is directed to that OPEN DOOR, and then to the ark within, which contains the commandments of God. The THIRD ANGEL of Revelation 14 is represented as flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Here ARE they that keep the commandments of God, AND the faith of Jesus.” This angel presents a message that IS to be proclaimed [FUTURE!!!!] TO THE WORLD just before Christ comes in the clouds of heaven to take his elect to himself. Just prior to this event, then, the attention of THE PEOPLE is to be called [FUTURE!!] to the trampled-down law of God." Ellen G. White, Present Truth (UK). [November 3rd, 1885]
MYTH 4: That the Laodicean Church (Seventh-day Adventist Denomination) goes through TO THE END!
"Laodicea. 1844 - To The End." Bible Readings for the Home Circle [Diagram]. [1889] (412)
The SPIRIT OF PROPHECY WRITES: Laodicea (as everyone knows) means LUKEWARM, not "A JUST PEOPLE". It is SPEWN OUT or “FORCEFULLY EJECTED”!
"So then because thou art LUKEWARM, and neither cold nor hot, I will SPUE THEE OUT of my mouth." -Revelation 3:16.
"We are co-workers with Christ, OR co-workers with the Enemy. We either gather with Christ, OR scatter abroad. We are decided, whole-hearted Christians, OR NONE AT ALL. Says Christ, “I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art LUKEWARM, and neither cold nor hot, I will SPUE THEE OUT of my mouth.”" Ellen G. White, Testimony No. 1. [1855] (15)
"The NUMBERS of THIS COMPANY had LESSENED. Some had been SHAKEN OUT, and LEFT by the way. “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then, because thou art LUKEWARM, and neither cold nor hot, I will SPUE THEE OUT of my mouth." Ellen G. White, Testimony No. 4. [1857] (36)
"Says the true Witness, “I would thou wert cold or hot. So then, because thou art LUKEWARM, and neither cold nor hot, I will SPUE THEE OUT of my mouth.” Satan is willing you should be a Christian IN NAME, for you can suit his purposes better. You can have A FORM and NOT TRUE godliness, and Satan can use you to DECOY others in the same SELF-DECEIVED way. Some poor souls LOOK to YOU, instead of looking to the Bible Standard. They come up no higher than you; they are as good as you, and are SATISFIED." Ellen G. White, Testimony No. 4. [1857] (10)
Read Part One
