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In these last days, many people have “little black books.” They are often used for private information; occultists write down their rituals, young women may write down their secret thoughts, some men may have a list of phone numbers of the women they know, and so on. I have a little black book also, but mine is not like these.

My Little Black Book is a Scripture journal, and it is divided into seven parts: The Victory, The Divinity of Christ, The Mark of The Beast, The State of The Dead, The Sabbath, The New Moon and Miscellaneous Items. Whenever I find verses or passages relating to overcoming sin, the true nature of the Godhead, the signs of allegiance to Satan, the nature of death and hell, the 7th day, the appointed times, or other interesting verses respectively, I write them in these chapters.

For some time, I had not written anything new regarding the Mark of The Beast as it relates to the Adventist Trademark in these last days. This morning, however, as I arrived at the book of Jeremiah in my reading, I took out the book and began to write. I have studied Jeremiah before, and even related it to the SDA apostasy in such articles as A Prophecy Against the GC; however, as I began to write I found it difficult to stop.

My original plan had been to write a few key verses pointing out that even a people who were once faithful – if they rejected the messages sent to them – would fall and have the remnant who remained loyal to the principles of Heaven called forth from them. I found, however, that from the beginning of the Book of Jeremiah to a considerable distance in, there is no irrelevant portion regarding this matter. This article will show some of the passages of Jeremiah’s chapters as it relates to the trademark/mark of the beast in current Adventism (for the details on that please see The Mark and The Seal), and I pray it will lead my readers to diligently study the rest of these chapters so that the whole picture may emerge.

One of the major objections to the message of truth as it is presented by the Church to Conference-affiliated Adventists consist of the promises of security given to them in the Scriptures and in the writings of their founders. They can easily show quotations expressing the beliefs of our Adventist authors that the Adventist Organization would go through to the end. Even if they do misapply some sections (such as an issue to which I respond in Appearing to Fall), they are nevertheless right on this matter: Great and precious promises were given to Adventism while it followed the course and principles of the Reformation.

The questions which the existence of the CSDA Movement bring to light are such as these: Can a corporation that has joined itself to the world continue to be considered by Heaven as “God’s holy people?” Can an organization that uses secular policy for the enforcement of religious beliefs continue to claim the protection of a Savior who has expressly forbidden such practices through His servants? (1Cor 6:1) Has any organization in the Bible or in history which has pursued such a course as theirs ever turned back to following the true ethic of Protestantism: to promote religious liberty and to stand distinctly apart from all unions of Church and state? The Scripture is clear enough that if a once-faithful Church organization turns to idols and considers human organizations its defender, it is divorced from Yahweh. (Hosea 7:10,11; Jer 3:1) Further if, in the course of this divorce, it “joins” to these organizations in legal contract and begins to use this human sword for supposedly divine purposes, it is as a marriage consummated, and the Scripture declares that such cannot ever return to the former husband. (Deu 24:4)

Uzza touched a holy Ark with an unconsecrated human hand, and he was destroyed for this mingling of the sacred with the profane. (1Ch 13:9,10)

Adventists call Christians (true and faithful believers) out from the Catholic fellowship, because they were (and still are) joined to Roman ideas, practices, and what became of its political institutions. Adventists call Christians out from once-Protestant churches because they have not renounced such Roman ideas and practices as Sundaykeeping, and such Greek ideas as the immortality of the soul. In this regard, their work is of Heaven, for they call people forth from formerly faithful fellowships that became corrupted when they joined to the world in doctrine and practices. But hypocrisy quickly follows, for they next introduce them to that form of apostate, corporate Adventism which has followed the same dark path! SDAs of the General Conference judge the churches of the world, declaring them fallen and Babylonian for turning away from God to the protection of “beasts” or human nations and authorities (Daniel 7:23). Yet in each declaration they point the finger firmly also at their own leaders and, via the Biblical principle of “corporate accountability,” (Num 16:32 and various other places) themselves. “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things!” (Romans 2:1)

The early chapters of the Book of Jeremiah gives us a pattern for these last days. The setting is this: Judah had seen northern Israel lapse into idolatry and unbelief. When Jeroboam the king set up golden calves to replace the Feast of Tabernacles so that his people would not have to go down to their rival kingdom in Judah, this began a sure decline into total apostasy. (1Kings 12:26-30) The sin was not attributed to the king alone, because the people went along with the idolatry, and the event is therefore described numerous times as “the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.” (1Kings 14:16, 16:19; 2Kings 10:29, etc.)

As a result of their idolatry, all of northern Israel collapsed spiritually, and when the Assyrians were raised up to attack them, they were unable to trust in Yahweh. As a result, they turned to the world (to Syria), and in this church state union committed an irreversible divorce from the Almighty. (Isaiah 7:1) As a result of this union, the combined forces of Samaria (the capital of northern Israel) and Syria were directed ultimately against those who remained faithful in Judah to the south. As it turns out, southern Judah’s faith was also weak, and they appealed to Assyria (the enemy of the north) for help against this conspiracy. (2Kings 16:7)

Now, Israel was utterly destroyed for its union with Syria (2Kings 17:23). Judah, however, did not go so far as to make war with other nations in its union with the earthly power, it had merely appealed to Assyria for help, and therefore its divorce and remarriage was never fully consummated. As a result its subsequent punishment (exile to Babylon) was not permanent. Israel, however, who did consummate the sacred/secular union of nations, was utterly destroyed, the Biblical principle there showing no exceptions.

In Jeremiah’s day, the people of Judah were confident in their standing with the Almighty, although they had been guilty of similar crimes as those to the north, and for this reason the prophet said to them, “‘But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. And now, because ye have done all these works,’ saith Yahweh, ‘and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not; Therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim.’” (Jer 7:12-15)

Let no one take spiritual pride in the promises given to them while they were yet faithful. Yahweh is of great mercy, and slow to anger, but He loves all men, and cannot use unclean vessels for long to carry forth His pure Gospel to a perishing planet. It would be as if the new wine of salvation were placed in old, corrupt wineskins of formalism and tradition, “And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.” (Luke 5:37) For this reason, whenever a church falls to the point where it joins the world, new bottles, new vessels, must be established to bear this wine which must never ferment.

Jeremiah rebuked those who were saying that since Yah’s name had been there, they could never fall. He said unto them, “Trust ye not in lying words, saying, ‘The temple of Yahweh, The temple of Yahweh, The temple of Yahweh, are these.’” (Jer 7:4) Judah considered the capital Jerusalem to be “Zion,” the city of God, however the message of the prophet was an unwelcome one, for he explained to them that Zion, true Zion, was where the faithful were: “Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction. O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in BethHaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.” (Jer 4:6, 6:1)

In these last days, the “standard toward Zion” is the character of Christ, obtained only by accepting the true Gospel; that of victory over sin. (1John 5:4) It is taught only by those lonely messengers who are willing to point out the obvious, that the watchmen on the once holy city of Adventism have failed to show the people the meaning of the trumpet (victory), and for this reason the BethHaccerem (“House of the vineyard” in Hebrew) was taken from them. (Luke 20:16) Those who claim that a particular Church can never fall, regardless of its idolatry and worldly associations, would do well to study the message of Jeremiah, for he refers to such “As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.” (Jer 5:27) It is this same “cage of birds” from which the last faithful group are called before the return of the Master. “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, ‘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.’ 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 18:1,2,4,5)

True Adventism will never be Babylon, just as true Zion would never fall. Nevertheless, just as true Zion was no longer to be associated with the city of Jerusalem after its corruption, so true Adventism can no longer be associated with the union with the beast into which the Conference has led the organized body bearing that name. True Zion, true Adventism, lies with the faithful, those who care for the vineyard, and bring forth the fruits thereof. Like Noah’s family on the ark, they are few. Like Elijah, they are scattered and alone in the world’s eyes. Like Christ, they are despised by those who prefer an earthly Kingdom to that of which the Master spoke: “My Kingdom is not of this world: if my Kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight.” (John 18:36) Nevertheless, they are led by Yahweh and the prayer of Christ is fulfilled in them, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:21)

The true Church brings the Gospel, and fulfills the message of Jeremiah, who said, “Thus saith Yahweh, ‘Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.’ But they said, ‘We will not walk therein.’ Also I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Hearken to the sound of the trumpet.’ But they said, ‘We will not hearken.’” (Jer 6:16,17)

This is the cross borned by the last messengers to the world. We say, “Seek the old paths,” give up the pagan errors that have crept into Christianity: Sunday sacredness, immortality of the soul, eternal suffering in Hell, the Trinity paradigm, and then you will have rest for your souls, true Sabbath! For you will know the Father and Son, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3) But they said, “We will not walk therein.” For them, the world-bound organizations teach thus and so, therefore the Bible cannot mean what it must be reasonably taken to mean on these matters. The reformers, who through agonizing, soul-searching prayer and study led us to an understanding of present truth by the Spirit’s leadings must have been mistaken, since the “Church” as it now stands rejects their message and warnings.

We have said, “Hearken to the sound of the trumpet,” echoing Jeremiah. We call people to victory over sin through the indwelling of Christ by His Spirit, “But they said, ‘We will not hearken.’” Oh, perverse generation... what more can be done for a people such as this?

Yahweh offered the people a chance to repent. “‘Turn, O backsliding children,’ saith Yahweh; ‘for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion.’” (Jer 3:14) But the people would not listen: “Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers. Yahweh hath rejected and forsaken the generation of His wrath. ‘For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight,’ saith Yahweh: ‘they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it.’ How do ye say, ‘We are wise, and the Law of Yahweh is with us?’ Lo, certainly in vain made He it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.” (Jer 7:26, 29b, 30; Jer 8:8)

Let none take pride in the fact that the name and faith of Yahweh was once with them. If they are joined to the world, they have nothing to do – as an organization – with the Savior. Christ says to such as this, “What hath my Beloved to do in mine house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? When thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.” (Jer 11:15) If they reject the Gospel, and the message of Heaven, they will unfit themselves for the work of helping souls to find the Kingdom of Peace, and the vineyard will be taken from them and given to others, as has always been done in the past. What shall we say then, if even those who profess to be teachers of the truth claim we do not become partakers of the nature of Christ and overcome sin? “Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.” (Jer 12:10,11)

But there is a faithful Church. There is a true Zion, bearing the message of primitive Adventism as a last message of mercy to a world on the brink of Divine Judgment. As was Jeremiah, we are weeping prophets, for we see the desolation that is left in the house of our brethren, and we call them forth with words of love, though the message is stern for the days are evil. But, “Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!” (Jer 9:1)

Even Jerusalem, the city of the throne of Yahweh on earth, which had received so many great promises, and of which it had been said, “There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel;” even upon this city came judgment because of its failure to walk in the straight paths. “‘And now, because ye have done all these works,’ saith Yahweh, ‘and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not; Therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.’” (Jer 7:13,14; Jer 9:11)

All of Jeremiah 24 is relevant here. It is long, and I will not therefore quote it entirely here, but I encourage all to study it carefully. Jeremiah sees a basket of figs, representing the people of Jerusalem. Those which were pleasant were those individuals who listened to the warnings, and fled the city before its destruction by the Babylonian forces. “Thus saith Yahweh, 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) Although Judah was the place where the faithful once dwelled, now it was those who fled the corruption who would be acknowledged as the true remnant, the ones who were of Israel, to overcome and escape into the wilderness.

This is a sure and direct message for our time, for she who was once faithful has turned aside from Christ for earthly lovers. It is they who escape to true Zion, to true Israel, and to true Adventism, who will be equipped to pass through the time of trouble, and who will be received by the King – represented by the coming of Nebuchadnezzar in this prophecy. The pastors of the Conference are teaching deceptions; “Thus saith the Adonai Yahweh unto the shepherds; ‘Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?’” (Ezek 34:2) There is no glory left in Jerusalem, the formerly faithful Church, and those who are faithful will come to the wilderness, from whence Elijah’s message came forth. (Mark 1:3)

“And unto this people thou shalt say, ‘Thus saith Yahweh; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.’” (Jer 21:8,9)

Let us with confidence grasp the promise of Heaven to the remnant of spiritual Israel: “Flee, save your lives, and be like the heath in the wilderness; And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” (Jer 48:6, 3:15) “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:39)

David.

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