REVIVAL AND REFORMATION

January 25, 1960

Introduction:

Down through the years there have been numerous well-meaning people in various parts of the Seventh-day Adventist world who have started, what they called, a "revival and reformation." Although regardless of their sincerity and zeal, not one has been able to accomplish a thing worthy of note. The reason for their miserable failures is that all have disregarded the instruction given by Inspiration. They have made great efforts to bring about reformation without the Holy Spirit's direction, without the active Spirit of Prophecy in their midst.

Reformation is not to be found in the hall of learning or the minds of zealous individuals, but rather it is brought about as a result of the revival of the Spirit and is found in the pages of Holy Writ. All reformations (reorganizations) that are attempted without the prophetic office directing is doomed to fail and will come to naught.

The words of Inspiration that "God is leading, not stray offshoots, one here and one there, but a people," (TM 61) will ever stand the test of time. There are those calling themselves 100% Rods who are trying to bring about a reorganization in the Davidian S.D.A. movement, yet at the same time admit that they are not led by the active Spirit of Prophecy. They even claim that they are not led by the revival of the Spirit, but it is because of their superior knowledge and by their deep study of the Davidian message that they are to effect reorganization – bring in a new association. They are saying that revival of the Spirit comes later. They do not take into account that the booklet they use to prove their theory proclaims that one cannot "vote in" the active Spirit of Prophecy, but the office is filled by the Lord's own appointment.

Therefore:      We read in The Leviticus of the Davidian Seventh-day Adventist – Article IV Officers and Their Duties, Section 1 pp 5, 6.

"(a) The regular officers of this Association shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary, and a treasurer.

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"(b) The president shall be called and chosen in accordance with the procedure set forth in Exodus, chapter three, verses ten, fifteen, and sixteen; chapter four, verse seventeen; Ezekiel, chapter three, verse seventeen; and Luke, chapter six, verse thirteen.

"(c) All other officers of this Association shall be appointed in accordance with the procedure set forth in Numbers, chapter eleven, verses sixteen, seventeen, twenty-four, and twenty-five, and in Acts, chapter six, verses one to seven; and chapter thirteen verses one to three.

"Section 2. The president shall, as typed in Exodus, chapter four, and in Numbers, chapter sixteen, verses twelve and twenty-five to thirty-two, act as CHAIRMAN of the Executive Council, as chief administrator of the affairs of the Association, and as a worker and minister in the general interest of the Association.

"Section 3. The vice-president shall, in accordance with the example recorded in Exodus, chapter seven, verses one and two, assist the president in administering in the affairs of the Association."

Conclusively the facts are: After reading the Scripture references given in the Leviticus of D.S.D.A. section (b) page 6, we find that the same method for selecting the president for the Davidian Association is to be used as was used in selecting Moses to lead the first Exodus. The president is to be God's appointed, not man's elected. (c) All other officers of the association are to be appointed to office in the same manner that Moses appointed the 70 men. (Be sure to read the above Bible references)

Section 2 The PRESIDENT is to act as CHAIRMAN. Therefore, the chairman of the association is God's appointed, NOT elected by man. Even the vice-president is chosen in the same manner that Aaron was chosen to help Moses.

Let it be remembered that Moses not only appointed the vice-president (Aaron) and the 70 men (whom God named), but he also appointed his successor (Joshua) whom the Lord named. Therefore, the modern Moses with the Shepherds Rod, the Rod of God that Speaks (Micah 6:9) has named his successor – Joshua and the Branch. 1 TGr 8-24:3; p 26:3, p 27:1, 3. also read GC 415; AA 595:2; Zech. 6:12, 13; 3:8

Elder M. L. Andreason is calling to the attention of General Conference and the people the fact that some of the brethren in G.C. are bringing in false teachings on the atoning blood of Christ. (TM 48:1) He is perfectly within his rights as an ordained Elder. If he were a layman, it would still be legitimate so long as he does not separate from the church in order to start another denomination or organization, since S.D.A. in the seventh and last. For says (TM 61) Inspiration: "...He is leading, not stray offshoots, not one here and one there, but a people."

However, if this brother should have the prophetic gift to bring out things new and old, and even though he be disfellowshipped from the church, he would be perfectly within his rights to use his pen and voice in order to bring "revival and reformation" to God's people and to enlist others to help him.

This is true, for we have the example of John the Baptist and also our Saviour. Although Jesus and John were prophets, neither started building other synagogues. Not until the Jewish nation fully rejected the Apostles' teachings of Christ as the Messiah was the apostolic church established. Jesus did, however, bring in a new order by instituting the Lord's supper. This, of course, was perfectly legitimate because it was prophetic.

Note:   The Branch movement, being the development of Christendom (14 Tr 34) and being a counterpart of the Gospel in Christ's day, is perfectly within its rights in changing the ordinances from a quarterly basis to the yearly MEMORIAL, as set forth in the Bible (Lev. 23) and Spirit of Prophecy. (P.P. 539)

I. THE REASON FOR REFORMATION

The Spirit of Prophecy through Sr. White tried to effect a reformation in the S.D.A. church at General Conference session in 1901. This attempt failed because the leading brethren refused to carry out Sr. White's instructions.

She wrote: "...the General Conference is itself becoming CORRUPTED with WRONG sentiments and principles." TM 359 – 1895.

"God gave to Moses special direction for the management of his work. He directed Moses to associate men with him as counselors, that his burdens might be lightened...This COUNSEL IS FOR US...The president of our General Conference has been left to gather to himself burdens which God has not laid upon him, and the things that he has tried to do could not be done wisely and well...

Moses said, 'When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and His laws. 'This WORK is STILL to be DONE, and if the men who bear responsibilities will NOT do it, then it MUST be COMMITTED to OTHERS...They are to be 'able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating COVETOUSNESS.' The Lord's COUNSEL has been STRANGELY neglected...many of our most RESPONSIBLE men have LOST FAITH in the MESSAGE coming from Sister White. Thus the rejectors of light have been strengthened in their unbelief, feeling that they had quite a strong confederacy... 'Truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.' The MALARIA of UNBELIEF has been DIFFUSING its DEATHLY atmosphere throughout the ranks, nigh and afar off. All this has been STATED PLAINLY, yet for years the MATTERS have been left UNCHANGED." TM 341-2.

"AS A PEOPLE we should STUDY God's PLAN FOR CONDUCTING His work... For years God has been DISHONORED." TM 342-3.

"The ancient men...who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed their trust." 5T 211.

"That THESE MEN should stand in a SACRED PLACE to be as the VOICE of God to the people, as we ONCE believed the General Conference to be, – THAT IS PAST. What we want now is REORGANIZATION." Gen. Conf. Bulletin, 34th Session, Vol. 4 Extra No. 1 April 3, 1901 page 25, Columns 1, 2.

"To place men where God should be placed does not honor or glorify God. Is the president of the General Conference to be the god of the people?" TM 375.

"The spirit of DOMINATION is EXTENDING to the presidents of our conferences." Id 362.

"Whole conferences are becoming leavened with the same perverted principles. 'For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. The Lord will work to purify His church. I tell you in truth, the Lord is about to turn and overturn in the institutions called by His name... He will thoroughly purge His floor." TM 372-3.

"God will NOT vindicate any device whereby man shall in the SLIGHTEST DEGREE RULE or OPPRESS his fellow men." TM 366.

SUMMARY of facts:

1. The General Conference was becoming corrupted with wrong principles as early as 1895
2. The instructions God gave Moses for choosing workers is counsel for the church now.

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3. Men chosen for the work should be "such as fear God, men of truth, hating COVETOUSNESS."
4. The Lords counsel has been strangely neglected. IT is YET to be DONE.
5. Many of the most responsible Conference men have no faith in Sr. White's message. The rejectors of light are strengthened in this strong CONFEDERACY.
6. The Malaria of unbelief has been diffusing its deathly atmosphere throughout the ranks.
7. The matters, after years, are left unchanged. For years God has been dishonored.
8. The ancient men (leaders) have betrayed their trust. Whole conferences are becoming leavened with perverted principles.
9. General Conference is not the voice of God as we once thought it to be.
10. God will work to purify the church. What we want now is REORGANIZATION. He will thoroughly purge His floor.
11. Since the G.C. is an organization led by men and not by the Lord through a prophet, S.D.A. as it is today cannot be the remnant spoken of in Revelation 12:17.

Therefore:    Revival and reformation bring purification and reorganization of the church under a new name.

II. REVIVAL FIRST, THEN REFORMATION

Inspiration places revival first: "Revival and Reformation are two different things. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruits of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit...Revival and reformation ...must blend." COR 154 & 121.

"I have been shown that the Lord is REVIVING the LIVING, pointed TESTIMONY, which will DEVELOP CHARACTER and PURIFY the church." 1T 216:1.

"I was shown that the POINTED TESTIMONY must LIVE in the church. THIS ALONE will ANSWER to the MESSAGE to the Laodiceans." 3T 260:1.

"God designs that there shall EVER be a LIVING testimony in the church." 3T 360:2.

"Prophecy MUST be fulfilled. The Lord says: 'Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord'. Somebody is to come in the spirit and power of Elijah, and when he appears, men may say: 'You are too earnest, you do not interpret the Scriptures in the proper way. Let me tell you how to teach your message.' " TM 475.

"When we have men as devoted as Elijah, and. possessing the faith which he possessed, we shall see that God will reveal himself to us as he did to holy men of old." 4T 402.

"Do you realize that this time of trouble is in the great and dreadful day of the Lord, the day which the promised prophet Elijah announces?... Do you see that the prophet appears in a day he can restore all things, everything that was lost through sin, even the Kingdom?" 2 TG 7-11:3.

"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the PROPHETS." Amos 3:7.

"Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be ESTABLISHED; believe his PROPHETS, so shall ye PROSPER." 2 CHRON. 20:20.

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"And by a PROPHET the Lord brought Israel out of EGYPT, and by a PROPHET was he PRESERVED." Hosea 12:13.

So Says Inspiration:

1. Revival is one thing and reformation (reorganization) is yet another. But the two must blend; for unless reorganization (reformation) is connected with the revival of the Spirit, it will not bring forth the good fruits of righteousness.
2. The Lord's servant was shown that the Living Testimony (active Spirit of Prophecy) which would develop character would also purify the church.
3. The pointed testimony must live in the church. This alone will answer to the message (counsel) to the men in the most responsible positions – the Laodicean angel.
4. The Living Testimony will continue to reside in the church.
5. Somebody is to come in the spirit and power of Elijah. He has a message, he is an interpreter, because men say: '...You do not INTERPRET the Scriptures in the proper way. Let me tell you how to teach your MESSAGE.'"
   1. This somebody – antitypical Elijah – is to come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord (Matt 4:5) and proclaims to the Laodiceans the purification of the church.
   2. When men are as devoted as was Elijah, God will reveal Himself to His people as of old.
   3. Elijah restores all things, even the kingdom that was lost by sin.
6. God will do nothing without first revealing His secrets to "His servants the prophets."
7. Believe in God's word and be established, believe also in His prophets in order that you may be prosperous, for the Lord leads and preserves Israel by a living prophet.

Therefore, the purification and reorganization will be brought by revival of the living, active Spirit of Prophecy and not just through the writings of the dead prophet. (Rev. 12:17)

III. WITHOUT THE LIVING, ACTIVE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY, ATTEMPTED REORGANIZATION WILL FAIL.

"...sacred history proves that nothing has ever prospered in God's work without the living Spirit of Prophecy in its midst.

"For example, Moses understood from childhood up that his lot it was to deliver the children of Israel from Pharaoh's brickyards. And when he was fully grown up and thoroughly trained in the courts of Pharaoh, and saw himself STRONG AND CAPABLE, he quickly undertook to deliver the enslaved Hebrew host: killed one Egyptian, got into an argument with a Hebrew, then deserted everything, and without hope of ever coming back he fled the country in complete defeat. Forty years later, after God endowed him with the Spirit of Prophecy, he returned and triumphantly led the Hebrew captives out of Egypt!"

"These special incidences make crystal clear that no matter how hard MEN may try to bring about REVIVAL and REFORMATION (reorganization) among God's people, their efforts are doomed to failure even before they start if God does not Himself through His PROPHETS take charge of the work." 1TGr 10-20, 21.

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"Since Zechariah's prophecy met only partial fulfillment in the days the Jews returned from Babylon to Jerusalem,...the revival and reformation of Zechariah's time is to repeat in our time. The builders' failure to continue with the work and to bring revival and reformation before Haggai and Zechariah were called to the prophetic office, and their success after God through the prophets took over, perfectly demonstrates that without the LIVING SPIRIT OF PROPHECY in the midst NO revival and reformation efforts can succeed, and that is why they all heretofore have failed ... It is, therefore, useless to agitate revivals and reformations while one knows not what and how actually to revive or to reform...it certainly is not in God's order for one to work up something and to call it revival and reformation."

"...(1) That a work and movement similar to those of Zechariah's day is successfully to bring revival and reformation among God's people of today (Who is to bring this revival and reformation, this great change? – The BRANCH 1TGr 8-24:3) that those who expect the promised blessings must whole-heartedly enter into it. (2) That without the living Spirit of Prophecy in our midst, there can be no success in any revival and reformation, and that the sooner WE KNOW IT THE QUICKER we shall ACHIEVE our GOAL." 1TGr 10-27.

SUMMARY:

1. Moses by his own wisdom and without the Spirit of Prophecy failed to liberate Israel. But forty years later after he had been endowed with the Spirit of Prophecy and by not using his own wisdom, he successfully led Israel from Pharaoh's brickyards and bondage.
2. Unless God takes charge of the work through His prophets, regardless how hard men may try to reorganize the work, "their efforts are doomed to failure even before they start."
3. A work similar to that of Zechariah's day will successfully bring revival and reformation. The BRANCH is to bring the great change.
4. The sooner God's people realize that the work will not be finished without the living Spirit of Prophecy in their midst, the quicker they will achieve their goal.

Therefore:    The living Spirit of Prophecy is not the writings of the dead prophets The Jews in Christ's day made the sad mistake of believing that Moses was the last of the prophets and his writings were all-sufficient.

CONCLUSION

"...Let us beware that we do not refuse the light God sends, because it does not come in a way to please us. Let not God's blessing be turned away from us because we know not the time of our visitation. If there are any who do not see and accept the light themselves, let them not stand in the way of others. Let it not be said of this highly favored people, as of the Jews when the GOOD NEWS of the KINGDOM was PREACHED to them, 'They entered not in themselves, and them that were entering in they hindered."

"We are taught in God's word that this is the time, above all others, when we may look for light from heaven. It is now that we are to expect a refreshing from the presence of the Lord...God cannot glorify his name through his people while they are leaning upon man, and making flesh their arm." 5T 728-9.

IV. ANCIENT ISRAEL'S HISTORY IS REPEATED BY MODERN ISRAEL – THE CHURCH

"The principles of God's dealing with men are ever the same. The IMPORTANT MOVEMENTS of the present have their parallel in those of the past, and the experience of the church in former ages has LESSONS of GREAT value for OUR OWN TIME." Great Controversy 343:1

"The history of ancient Israel is a striking illustration of the past experience of the Adventist body." Id. 457:2

"Jerusalem is a representation of what the church will be if it refuses to receive and walk in the light that God has given..." 8T 67

"...By rejecting God's warnings in this our day, men are repeating the sin of Jerusalem." 8T 68:1

"...When I study the Scriptures, I am alarmed for the Israel of God in these last day...The marks of distinction between Christ's professed people and the world have almost disappeared. Like ancient Israel, they follow after the abominations of the nations around them." 1T 277:1

"...We are repeating the history of that people." 5T 160

The plain facts clearly show that:

1. The Creator's principles of dealing with His people are ever the same.
2. The important (prophetic) movements have their parallel (type) in those of the past, and like ancient Israel, God's professed people of today are going after the abominations of the nations. We are repeating their history. The Israel of God (the church) is in an alarming condition.

CONCLUSION

"...The church will be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary." 5T 83

"In the balances of the sanctuary the Seventh-day Adventist church is to be weighed." 8T 247

"...Said the angel, 'God is weighing his people.' " 1T 186

V. PURIFICATION PRECEDES REORGANIZATION.

The Lord will work to purify His church. I tell you in truth, the Lord is about to turn and overturn in the institutions called by His name. Just how soon this refining process will begin, I cannot say, but it will not be long deferred. He whose fan is in His hand will cleanse His temple (church) of its moral defilement. He will thoroughly purge His floor. God has a controversy with all who practice the least injustice; for in so doing they reject the authority of God, and imperil their INTEREST in the ATONEMENT... " TM 373

"...therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among THIS PEOPLE, (the church) even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid." TM 382

"...The time has come for earnest and powerful efforts to rid the church of the

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slime and filth which is tarnishing her purity. The church of Christ is called to be a holy, powerful people, a NAME and PRAISE in all the earth." TM 450

"...The time has come when Jerusalem is being searched as with lighted candles. God is at work investigating character, weighing moral worth, and pronouncing decisions on individual cases." TM 448

"He will purify His church, even as Christ purified the temple during His ministry on earth." A.A. 525

"...But the days of purification of the church are hastening on apace. God will have a people PURE and TRUE. In the MIGHTY sifting SOON to take place, we shall be better able to measure the strength of ISRAEL (church). The signs reveal that the time is near when the Lord will thoroughly purge His floor." 5T 80

"...And I saw that the Lord was WHETTING his SWORD in Heaven to cut them down. Oh that every lukewarm professor could realize the clean work that God is about to make among his professed people!" 1T 190

"When TREES without fruit are CUT down as cumberers of the ground, when MULTITUDES of FALSE brethren are distinguished from the TRUE, then the HIDDEN ones will be REVEALED to view, and with hosannas range under the banner of Christ." 5T 81

"'God is sifting his people. He WILL have a CLEAN and HOLY church..." 1T 99

"For Zion's (the church 2T 446) sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a NEW NAME, which the MOUTH of the Lord shall name.

"And ye shall leave YOUR NAME for a curse unto MY CHOSEN: for the Lord God SHALL SLAY THEE, and call his SERVANTS by ANOTHER NAME:" Isa 62:1, 2; 65:15

"'A NEW NAME' Indicative of the new experience they have passed through, which is the SEPARATION, or SIFTING as explained. God Himself with His own mouth gives the NAME so it can not be COUNTERFEITED. The time the name is received (by the church) is at the end of the 430 year period as explained on the chart on pages 112- 13. Thus, the church is reorganized under a NEW NAME. The OLD NAME, being polluted could no longer be retained. There is no one to go by the old name, for the ones who were NOT worthy of having the NEW NAME have perished under the figure of the five men with the slaughter weapons of Ezekiel 9. The name only remains for a curse." 1SR 155

SUMMARY:

1. The Lord will have a pure holy church. He was seen whetting His sword to cut down the lukewarm professors. When lukewarm professors are cut down as cumberers of the ground the hidden ones will be disclosed to view.
2. Then the righteous with hosannas range under the banner of Christ. As they go forth as brightness and as a lamp that burneth, the Gentiles shall see their righteousness and ALL kings their glory, in the time of the "Loud Cry."
3. When the Lord slays the wicked in the church, He will call His servants by a NEW name. The old name (Seventh-day Adventist) will remain for a curse. The church is reorganized under a NEW NAME at the end of the 430 years. The new name can NOT be counterfeited for God Himself gives the name with His own mouth.

Conclusion:

"Israel is spelled with six letters." 1SR 233 "Thou, Israel, art my servant." Isa. 41:8. "...I will bring forth my servant the (six letters) BRANCH." Zech. 3:8.

"The work of Christ as man's intercessor is presented in that beautiful prophecy of Zechariah concerning Him 'whose NAME is the BRANCH.' " G.C. 415.

"In that day shall the BRANCH of the Lord be BEAUTIFUL and GLORIOUS...for them that are ESCAPED of ISRAEL." (the church) Isa 4:2.

"...I will raise unto David a righteous BRANCH: ...He shall be called, the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." Jer. 23:5,6.

"In those days, and at that time, will I cause the BRANCH of righteousness to grow up unto David ...SHE shall be called, the Lord our righteousness." Jer. 33:15.

"And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all nations of the earth." Jer. 33:9.

"In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David (righteous Branch) shall be as God (and have His name), as the angel of the Lord before them (great multitude Rev 7:9)." Zech. 12:8.

"Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the NAME of the Lord." Ps. 113:1.

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