In the “The Conflict Series” by author Ellen G. White, the person of Christ Yahshua is referred to in the third of five volumes as “The Desire of Ages.” This is, I believe, a spin on Haggai 2:7, which reads, “And I will shake all nations, and the Desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.” Mrs. White merely exalts the term still higher, calling our Savior the Desire of nations of ALL ages. And where is our sweet Redeemer now? Is He still desired by all ages? Is He still the longed-for hope of humanity? Assuredly yes, but He may surely not be treated that way in our modern world.

There is much talk these days, especially in those churches that look forward to the soon return of Christ, about the “seven church ages,” discussed in the early chapters of Revelation. But what ARE those ages, anyway? I have never had them explicitly explained to me, and I haven’t seen much useful information in church commentaries either. Perhaps they are there and I missed them, but even if that is the case, it means that the data is more well-hidden than I would like. I would not have my brethren be uninformed or uneducated on this, however, so after doing some reading myself, and applying the “new light” of the Victory and the 7th Day Sabbath to some older works, I have decided to write out my findings, and we shall see if we cannot discover: 1) What the church ages are 2) Where Christ, the “Desire” of these ages currently is in this chronological roadmap and 3) Is the Creation 7th Day Adventist church right in its stand to withdraw itself from the General-Conference body to protest the name “Seventh-Day Adventist,” and in fact to with draw itself from ALL denominationality? We will examine this as we go along.

Here then are the seven church ages, and we will find that both their names and their characteristics match perfectly seven distinct periods in ecclesiastic history, as defined by at least one major event.

Age 1: Ephesus – The name “Ephesus” means “desirable.” This represents the first church age, that first century when the apostles of Christ were still with us, and all the “signs following” fortold in Mark 16:20 were apparent for all to see. Revelation 2:1-7 describes this time as being full of good works, and labor, and patience – when the members hated evil, and tested all those who claimed to be “apostles” to see if they walked according to the truth or not. This is the very picture of Christ’s bride in the book of Acts , when they labored “for my Name’s sake,” as Christ describes them. They also hated a doctrine called the “Nicolaitan” teaching, which Christ also hated. We will examine what this is shortly, when we see it mentioned again in yet another church age.

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” (Rev 2:4) Paul warned the apostolic church against this, didn’t he? He warned various leaders of the church, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:29-31) The first church, like the first man, let tiny errors seep in. Oh, if they, like he, had only been aware of all the pain that would result! You know the saying, “There are no little sins;” so we see it’s applications here. A few false teachers, a few false doctrines... and the religion of Christ is today fragmented, weak and the punching bag of the world. Where is the strength, and the prophecy and the miracles? “Come up here,” says the Creation Seventh-Day Adventist Church, “and I will shew you a thing.” But we will get to that later.

Age 2: Smyrna – This word is Greek for “myrrh.” This is one of the gifts given to Christ at His birth (Mat 2:11), and we see that it has two uses – primarily, it is a fragrance, (Psa 45:8) and secondly it is an embalmer, to preserve the dead. (John 19:39) It’s main role in Scripture is that of a seductive fragrance, to draw lovers and charm kings. It is one of the silent “stars” of the Song of Songs, and is mentioned frequently through the book. We find from verses like Sng 1:13 that it gives off it’s perfume at maximum strength when it is warmed and crushed. This is indeed the case, for it was used in “bundles,” and then smashed in order to be rubbed with oil into the skin.

Under the heel of Rome, under rulers such as Nero, Hadrian, Domitian and others, the church was stamped down to the earth. For two centuries they were persecuted and scattered – some of the apostles were executed, some jailed, some exiled. But never was there such a time for witnessing! Because of the faithful testimony of the martyrs, who sealed their faith with their blood, how many souls were won to Christ in even those dark times? Like Myrrh, the crushed church gave off the sweetest scent. “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich),” says Christ. Yes, they had tribulation, and were poor as the world counted poorness, but they were rich in the eyes of Yah, and to the gathering of wheat.

That verse, Revelation 2:9, concludes, “and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” During this time of high danger for the true believers, such factions in the church as the “Judaizers” were quickly shaken out by this time of trouble. A heart that is not right with Yah will not survive the leaner years of church history. Just as in the days of Smyrna, so will the end be: a time of Jacob’s trouble will purify the faithful like “gold tried in the fire,” but will burn away all those who are without deep roots in Christ “like chaff.” Other than this pointing-out of a dissenting faction, notice that nothing bad is said about Smyrna! In tribulation, there is no time for silly internal conflicts. With the present church on the age of an even greater crisis than this, can we afford them now?

“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” (Rev 2:10,11) Such precious promises! This can be no other time but those awful two decades of Roman oppression.

Age 3: Pergamos – The meaning of “pergamos” has two connotations; one is “elevation,” and the other is “marriage.” Ah, Constantine, wonderful Constantine. How much damage your “love” has done to the name of Christ! We would have preferred the hatred of our open enemies to the sugary poison of your patronage. In that age, the persecution did stop. But at what a price! The church “married” pagan Rome, producing an awful beast, a church-state union that Revelation describes as rising “out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.” (Rev 13:1) Yes, she was “elevated” in the eyes of the world, but see what Christ says to her because of this, “I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is.” (Rev 2:13)

Rome was not a good place to put the center of the church after those 200 years of persecution. I can understand the leaders’ desire to compromise their faith in order to stop the slaughter – really, I can. But “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it,” is how Yahshua concludes His message to this age, in Revelation 2:17. Constantine’s “marriage” to the faltering church brought in such detestable heresies as Sunday as the official day of worship (no, he didn’t start it, per se – but he is the one that made it church doctrine).

Christ accuses this church age of holding “the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.” (Rev 2:14) If we read this story, in Numbers 25:1-9, we see the result of Balak’s influence on Israel in the chapter before it. The Israelites began to inter-marry with Midianite woman, and to participate in their awful idolatry. We see that the same thing began to happen when the pagan practices of Rome were introduced into the church as a result of this unholy union.

But it wasn’t all dark and gloomy in those days, for Christ commends them on this point – although because of their union with Rome, they had come to the very seat of Satan on earth, He says, “and thou holdest fast my Name, and hast not denied my faith.” During the times of the church’s joining with Rome, there arose a dispute called the “Arian” controversy after a certain church leader named Arius. This individual began to deny the deity of Christ, claiming that He was not in fact Yah made flesh, but was merely the first created being. Anyone familiar with the theology of the Jehovah’s Witnesses will recognize this teaching right away.

At the time discussed here, the bishop of Alexandria realized the grave error of this doctrine, and deposed the false teacher in 320 A.D. Arius found some support from other teachers of the day, however, and a rift began to widen in the body of Christ. Realizing that this controversy would weaken his political sway on his new “bride,” Constantine called together the famous “Nicean Council” to decide the matter. At the conclusion of this gathering, the church as a body summarily rejected the notion of Yahshua as a created being, and reaffirmed His full equal and co-eternal nature with Yahweh the Father – ending the heresy. Of course, some churches today have yet to catch up with the decision made 1700 years ago... Nevertheless, the true Church (which it still was, at least nominally) held fast Christ’s Name, and denied not His faith.

One more thing... We see for the second time this doctrine called “Nicolaitan” mentioned. I’d like to take a little space here to show what this is. Actually, as with most things in Scripture, there is a dual meaning. Remember, this letter was written to the ACTUAL church of Pergamos, as well as the AGE which is defined by the name Pergamos. We separate them this way – the actual church is defined by location, and the current problems of the day, whereas the church age is defined by the very meaning of the word.

To put it more plainly, the “Nicolaitan” doctrine has two parts, one based on the NAME “Nicolaitan,” and the other upon what the doctrine actually was. The true doctrine itself applies to the true Pergamost church. And the name-problem of Nicolaitanism is applied to the church age named Pergamos.

Let us deal with the Name-problem first. The name “Nicolaitan” is composed of two parts – “nicao,” meaning “to conquer” and “laos,” meaning the “lay people” of the church. In both this age and in the Apostolic age we had this problem of the leaders trying to control the laity. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing in the case of the TRUE apostles (1 John 2:8), but it becomes a serious problem when false teachers and power-hungry individuals try to take the reigns (3 John 1:9). The Apostolic church in the Ephesian era “tried them which said they are apostles,” (Rev 2:2) and thus it “hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans.” (Rev 2:6) In Pergamos, however, Christ declares that some hold the doctrine He hates. Some had begun to accept the unquestionable leadership of others, and this is clearly reflected in the Pergamos Age, for under the Roman system, the roles of various leaders became more defined and more “official.”

So what was the actual Nicolaitan doctrine that affected the EARLY and true Pergamos Church? We see that the name “Nicolaitan” describes what affects the age named Pergamos, so the true doctrine in the same way had begun to poison that true church.

Looking up “Nicolaitans,” in the Bible Encyclopedia (http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/), we find this definition: “The church at Ephesus (Rev. 2:6) is commended for hating the “deeds” of the Nicolaitans, and the church of Pergamos is blamed for having them who hold their “doctrines” (15). They were seemingly a class of professing Christians, who sought to introduce into the church a false freedom or licentiousness, thus abusing Paul’s doctrine of grace (compare 2 Pet. 2:15, 16, 19), and were probably identical with those who held the doctrine of Baalam (q.v.), Rev. 2:14.”

Consider that the doctrine of grace can be abused! Try telling that to some Christians who hold that we can never choose to relinquish our salvation... But we can make it plainer. In the first century, there was an awful heresy infiltrating into the churches called “Gnosticism.” This doctrine taught that Christ our Savior did not come in the flesh, but was merely a spirit sent to show us the right way, and was not fully man. Notice the error of the ditch on both sides. One recent fallacy claimed that Christ was not fully God; and here we have one that claims He was not fully man. John the apostle absolutely loathed this teaching, because it held that everything about the material world was hopelessly corrupt, that mankind had no hope of redemption while in physical flesh, and therefore Christ could not have come in the flesh.

He rebuts this “with fire,” in such verses as 1 John 4:2,3 and 2 John 1:7. His entire Gospel was a treatise on the full divinity of Christ combined with His full humanity. Conclusion: John hated Gnosticism. But what are the implications of Gnosticism? Church history written by such authors as Eusebius describes a falling away of such early members as the deacon Nicolas of Antioch (Acts 6:5), for whom the movement is named, who taught salvation by grace irrespective of works. Now, we truly ARE saved by grace alone, but as James points out, if this grace does not naturally lead to good works, it is not true grace. Gnosticism teaches that nothing material CAN be good, and therefore, it doesn’t matter what we DO, we cannot lose our salvation in the Spirit.

Does this sound familiar? Yes, this abominable teaching is still alive and well in the incarnation of the “once saved always saved” doctrine. Fornicate, steal, murder... it doesn’t matter, once you’ve given your life to Christ. You may lose your honor, and your glory in Heaven, but you cannot lose your eternal life. Lies, lies! John, Peter and Paul roll over in their graves at these teachings from the pulpit every week. This neo-gnosticism permeates modern Christianity under the title “boundless grace,” but I say call it by it’s true name: licentiousness. Give it it’s true title, Gnosticism, and for the sake of your soul, shun it, for it is something that Christ said, “I also hate.”

Now, the Victory is the true message. It is the truth to which Satan, in his gnosticism, has provided this hellish counterpart. The Victory teaches, “I have accepted Christ, and therefore, I WILL not willfully sin. Why would I want to? Hasn’t Christ set me free from the slavery to my sinful tendencies? Hasn’t He given my a new heart, that I should not even desire evil?” John puts it this way: “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (1 John 3:9) It does not mean we cannot choose to fall away, for Paul warns against that often, and even tells us he constantly checked HIMSELF to make sure he was right with the Father, “lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (1 Cr 9:27)

Gnostic doctrine (and the “once saved” principle) teaches, “You cannot be lost, even IF you sin. Christ will forgive you each and every time, and maybe – by a series of improvements, you can “evolve” into what He wants you to be.” I saw a respected preacher say this once, “I may not be what God wants me to be, but I thank Him every day that I am not what I USED to be.” Sounds nice, perhaps... to a spiritual evolutionist. But we teach Creation. “Create in me a NEW heart, Elohim, and renew a right spirit in me.” David never said, “Make me better. Make me different than I used to be, and just a little bit more like what you have envisioned me being.” NO. We say Yah makes us new NOW, when we accept the sacrifice of His son and accept life eternal. We are not fully MATURE at that instant, but we begin to GROW, and we are perfect at every stage: whether a Christian “seedling,” “sprout,” or “sapling.” Let this awful, soul-destroying heresy of irresistible, unconditional grace be shown for what it is. We ARE called to be “once saved always saved,” but that means we WILL not commit known sin, through the grace of Christ living IN us, and therefore WILL not fall. This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith, not our own strength, or our “trying” to do right. This was John’s rebuttal to gnosticism (1 John 5:4) in the first century, and it is my reply now to its new, streamlined incarnation.

Age 4: Thyatira – This name – composed of an amalgamation of two Greek words – means, “Continuous Sacrifice.” In the 7th Century A.D. the political pressures exerted by Constantinian rule finally collapsed the resolve of the church leaders, and the “marriage” of Pergamos was consummated. The papacy sprung fully-formed from the unholy marriage of church and state, and their son, the Pope, assumed the title of “Vicar of Christ on Earth.”

Let us hear what Christ has said of this age: “I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.” (Rev 2:20) The tattered remnants of the Apostolic church, no longer “Ephesus,” no longer “desirable,” has become a manipulator, just as the historical Jezebel was. The world has suffered the Inquisition, the French Revolution and the Dark Ages, continual sacrifices ever since.

But there is an even deeper meaning to the term “continuous sacrifice.” Consider that under the papacy, that pagan institution known as the “mass” was formed. Many people, Catholic and Protestant alike, are wholly ignorant as to what this implies. The mass is a ceremony, not merely to gather believers in fellowship, but to have them partake afresh of the sacrifice of Christ’s body and blood for the redemption of sin. Peter is plain on this point, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” (1 Peter 3:8) This is reflected also in the book of Hebrews, “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Heb 9:28)

Now, Christ DID institute the last supper, in which He said, “Do this [offer bread and wine] in remembrance of me.” He did NOT say it was a sacrifice each time, and yet any Catholic priest will tell you that the “sacrifice of the mass” is an event of trans-substantiation, that the wafer and fermented drink actually become the body and blood of Yahshua through this mystical process. The mass is a continual sacrifice, and each time it is performed, the Catholic priests “crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh,” which Hebrews 6:6 describes as “putting Him to open shame.” Thyatira is verily the church age of this awful, weekly sacrifice of our once dead and twice-alive Redeemer.

You can read the rest of Revelation 2:19-23 to see the fate of this apostate, idolatrous church in the last days. Yet behold the mercy of Christ! Still he has love for the individuals in the church. “But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.” (Rev 2:24,25) After pronouncing prophetic doom on the system, He yet expresses tender sympathy for those true believers who yet abide in the walls of Babylon. Lonely exiles, they await the true message to bring them forth to Canaan.

Of the Thyatiran age Christ says, “I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.” (Rev 2:19) He actually starts with this, commending what He can commend. To be honest, the Catholic church has done quite a bit of good. Charitable institutions, hospitals, schools... all wonderful works. If only works alone could save... many more would be ushered through the pearly gates. What is to be commended is to be commended, but unfortunately Christ says, “And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.” (Rev 2:21) Like Cornelius the centurian, (Acts 10:3,4) the Catholic church’s charity has indeed been noticed by the Heavenly Kingdom, and as a reward, it was given opportunity after opportunity – reformer after reformer – to repent and mend its ways. Yes, “faith” is listed there as one of Thyatira’s virtues, but it did not last, for the church rejected the warnings Heaven sent, and this surely has spelled its doom, paving the way for the next church age after it, leaving the fallen institution to its illusions. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” (Rom 1:28)

Age 5: Sardis – The reformation! Sardis means “escaped remnant,” and what a wonderful way in which this prophetic title was fulfilled under the Lutheran protest. Following the 95 articles of contention that Martin Luther nailed to the door of a church in Wittenberg, a large group of faithful Christians escaped the confines of the Roman Catholic church. Casting off the dead formalism and stifling pagan compromises that had saturated their former religious experiences, the brave members of the protestant movement ushered in a renewed zeal for Scriptural fidelity.

“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.” (Rev 3:2) This is the only really negative thing Christ says to the churches, and it is that they are not yet “perfect.” This can readily be seen from the writings of the reformers. Calvin, for example, believed in “absolute predestination,” and Luther died as something of a racist, from what I have heard. Nevertheless, these men did well to live up to the great light they had recieved, and for this reason the message continues. “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.” (Rev 3:4) Amen! Praise of this magnitude is no slight thing!

I wish I had more time to go into the reformation in detail – for there is much to be said here on the errors in doctrine that led to all the “denominations” which have so degenerated in recent days, but I truly did intend for this to be an overview. I have already spent a lot of time in Pergamos, which is when things really began to nosedive, but I encourage ALL readers to study this period for themselves; there are some truly amazing revelations to be discovered. Still, this remains: the works of the Sardis age were not found perfect. There was more light yet to come!

Age 6: Philadelphia – Many North American readers already know the meaning of this word. Just as in the United States city, the word “philadelphia” means “brotherly love.” In this age, a second reformation began. William Miller and his group of believers began to study the events in Scripture which indicated that Christ’s return was imminent. Calling the faithful from all the fallen denominations, these individuals began to prepare for Yahshua’s appearance, forsaking their former religions and uniting under the banner of truth.

As a result of their fervent desire to be fully right before Yah, we find that this is the second age in which nothing negative was indicated by Christ concerning the members. Not since the age of persecution in Smyrna had such approval been heard, and with the addition of the Sabbath truth later on the Advent movement, their works were now found more acceptable than those who didn’t quite manage to fully break away from Roman tendencies.

“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.” (Rev 3:8) Christ does not praise them for their great strength, for truly, the Advent movement was small, and not as visually impressive as the Ephesian age. At the same time, with the little strength they HAD, those faithful few kept His word, and for this cause, a wonderful truth was revealed to them. Not only was the Sabbath returned to them, which I will deal with shortly, but they also began to understand the teaching of the Sanctuary.

I go into the details of the work of final atonement in other articles, but it may be sufficient to say at this point that the books of Hebrews and Leviticus combine to show us that the work our “High Priest,” Christ, now performs for us in the Heavenly Sanctuary is the work upon which was based the work of the Aaronite priesthood in ancient Israel. Miller and his group came to this realization, and understood that there was a period of grace, “the open door,” before the cataclysms of Revelation’s judgement and the end of all time. Had the Seventh-Day Adventist church only held to its first love, like the Ephesian church, all would have been well.

This was also said of the Philadelphian church: “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.” (Rev 3:9) Remember the age of the “Smyrna” church? During the persecutions, the “Judaistic” movement was effectively snuffed out, but unfortunately, at the close of that age, the Pergamos “marriage” to pagan Rome wiped the Sabbath blessing away also. Now, in this sixth age, we see the blessing restored. Instead of Judaizers trying to urge Christians to keep the old covenant, however, the “Synagogue of Satan” worships at the feet of the true believer, yielding up it’s long kept secret, and restoring the promise of the Seventh Day. The Seventh-Day Adventists became “they who say they are Jews,” and ARE. Why do we keep the 7th Day Sabbath? For the same reason Israel did. They were brought out of Egypt, and we were brought out of sin – in either case it is a memorial of the Creative power that made us free.

“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” (Rev 3:10) This scripture has often been used (among others, and just as wrongly) to claim there will be a removal of the church from the earth before the tribulation begins. I cover that issue extensively in other articles. What it does mean, however, is that the SDA church did provide the true and final message to the earth, but the original messengers were allowed to sleep through the final act. They had served well, and now await their reward in the silence of Sheol.

“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Rev 3:11) “Hold fast,” He said, for the time was coming soon.

Age 7: Laodicea – The Philadelphia church was well warned. Before the promise of their sure reward, the last thing that was said to them was, “Hold fast, for the time is at hand.” The individuals that began the 6th church age did well, but unfortunately they did not “bind up the work.” Oh, they provided us with a legacy of light, this is true, but the bridegroom has tarried, and so even the wise virgins slept. The word “laodicea” means “the rights of the people,” and anyone who is familiar with the SDA Trademark apostasy, and/or has read my article, “The Mark and The Seal” should immediately see the significance of this title.

The awful, insidious poison that was released in the age of Pergamos claims even the reformed churches and the Adventist movement in this dark era. In this time, even as the Sabbath of Ages, the thousand years of peace, draws near, we see that it will indeed be celebrated from sunset to sunset – because this millenium has begun with a dark night indeed. Is the SDA church involved in any open rebellion against Yah? Are they out breaking the commandments and teaching others to do the same? No... not really. Well, some in the “spirit” of the law, perhaps, but at the same time, we see that they are neither “hot nor cold.”

Yahshua explains exactly why this is. “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. Because thou sayest, ‘I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;’ and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” (Rev 3:15-17) The Philadelphia church was healthy, and wise... and because of it Yah blessed them also with wealth, in order that they should do a pleasing and worldwide work to herald in His coming. But they used their wealth to build a kingdom – universities, councils, “high places.” There may not be anything wrong with these inherently, but that was not the PURPOSE for which the riches were committed to the Seventh Day Adventists.

So now, in order to protect this great and wonderful Tower, the General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists, on behalf of the entire “denomination,” (notice the wording) have Trademarked the name “Seventh Day Adventist,” in order to protect it from use by those of less acceptable character or practices. But in the very doing of it, they have denied their faith... 1 Cor 6 condemns the practice, and the Sabbath itself forbids it, for what individual, or organization “at rest” will try to FORCE others in matters of faith? “Give up the name, or we will prosecute you, and throw you in prison,” says the General Conference. In what way is this Christlike? The pastors I have spoken with, who have agreed with the legal action, have justified it this way – “Times have changed, and we have to defend ourselves from those who would misuse the name. The name God gave us has to be defended.”

Yes, the name Yah gave the true church has to be defended. But it has to be defended by HIM. And even worse, the Adventist church has gone to the very enemy to do it! They have gone right back into Egypt to purchase the sword of Caesar from their once and future captors, and fell again into the very snare from which they once escaped. “But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:22) Please do read The Mark and The Seal article if you have not yet, for I qualify this overview there.

But all is not yet lost. “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (Rev 3:18,19) It is in THIS generation that the robes may be bought! Some from the previous ages were worthy to walk with Yahshua in white – but He says to you, and He says to me TODAY, “Come get it!”

But we have to BUY the robes. Yes, there is a price. When the rich young ruler came to Christ to ask what he must do to be saved, Christ said, “Sell all you have.” Keep the commandments, yes... but it isn’t enough. We are not, and we can not be saved by works. We have to have that faith that follows Yahshua. We must come out of these fallen organizations and follow HIM. We do not follow a denomination, or a church, or a doctrine. We do not in fact follow any THING – we follow a Person, a faithful High Priest. His people have a Name, and a Standard which is the Word, and we have an inheritance – that wonderful country described in the final chapters of the book of Isaiah.

Sell all you have. Let me put it another way. “Now Yah had said unto Abram, ‘Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.’” (Gen 12:1-3) All the families, all the Tribes, will be blessed by every ONE that trusts and obeys. Let me put it another way. “Thus saith Yah, the God of Israel; ‘Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.’” (Jer 24:5) Come with Judah, the Creation Seventh-Day Adventist church, and into that goodly land, that heavenly land.

Let me put it another way: “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.’” (Rev 18:2-5)

Do you fail to see the importance of leaving the fallen organizations? Let me put it yet another way: “And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Cor 15:18)

One of the primary questions I asked at the beginning of this article remains unanswered. Where is Yahshua at the end of the church ages? Here He is, speaking to Laodicea, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Rev 3:20) Yes, Christ is at the door, but He is standing on the outside and knocking. If any will answer, go to the door with Him – to that person, to that organization, He will go into and abide with. These are the last days, this is the last age. The Creation Seventh-Day Adventist church is the Judah of Jeremiah 24, as I indicated in my articles before on “Claiming The Inheritance.” We are calling you away, to come and inherit the land.

This was the pattern of our progress from the very beginning of the church up until these very final hours. The seven ages spelled out our destiny from day one, and it is only now, in retrospect, that we can see what our sweet Yahshua has been trying to tell us all along. “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” (Rev 3:21,22)

David.

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