With LIBERTY and JUSTICE for ALL?

 

The reader will notice a red question mark in my title.  That small and dreadful punctuation mark bears vast implications for any who claim American citizenship in our present generation, and especially so for Creation Seventh Day Adventists.  You will easily recognize the phrase without the question mark as coming from the Pledge of Allegiance that is a definition of American democracy and a constant reaffirmation of our dedication to the fundamental principles of that democracy outlined in the U. S. Constitution.  This essay is intended to show cause for questioning the existence of “liberty and justice for all” in America.

 

            It is no secret that the American judicial system has been closely scrutinized by several sectors of the citizenry for decades.  Case in point could be the popular 1979 film entitled “And Justice for All,” with Al Pacino.  The title itself carries with it an air of sarcasm.  The movie, among other things, characterizes an arrogant self-serving judge who did not practice ethical and just standards when administering so-called “justice.”  “One of the most deplorable things upon the earth is the fact that there are passionate governors and unjust judges.  They forget that they are under the authority of the great Governor, the all-wise God, and that He is above every ruler, prince, governor, or king.  Rulers are God's servants, and they are to serve their time as his apprentices. It is for their good that they faithfully follow the plain ‘thus saith the Lord,’ keeping the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment.”  (Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, October 1, 1895)  “Satan is using every means to make crime and degrading vice popular.  We cannot walk the streets of our cities without encountering flaring notices of crime presented in some novel, or to be acted at some theatre.  The mind is educated to familiarity with sin.  The course pursued by the base and vile is kept before the people in the periodicals of the day, and everything that can arouse passion is brought before them in exciting stories.”  (Bible Echo and Signs of the Times, October 15, 1894)  Hollywood is guilty of abominable practices and does not, by any means, uphold the Law of God, though it has often revealed flagrant ills of society and the carnal nature.

 

            I am not inclined to lambaste the judiciary or the film industry in my current essay.  On the other hand, there is at work in our generation a mysterious deception within the American legal system, perhaps catalyzed by movie-makers, that is much less obvious than faulty or unethical decisions handed down by unprincipled magistrates, yet certainly as dangerous to the cause of liberty.  A judge may rule fairly within the boundaries of established law, while advocating a position that denies the basic constitutional liberties envisioned by our forefathers.  In the following paragraphs I will endeavor to develop my thesis in a manner that you can grasp and appreciate.

 

            Perhaps the most logical starting point for our discussion will be the United States Constitution and how Satan has planned to thwart its basic principles of individual freedoms, both civil and religious.  In December of 1889, Ellen White wrote, I have been much burdened in regard to movements that are now in progress for the enforcement of Sunday observance. It has been shown to me that Satan has been working earnestly to carry out his designs to restrict religious liberty.  Plans of serious import to the people of God are advancing in an underhand manner among the clergymen of various denominations, and the object of this secret maneuvering is to win popular favor for the enforcement of Sunday sacredness.  If the people can be led to favor a Sunday law, then the clergy intend to exert their united influence to obtain a religious amendment to the Constitution, and compel the nation to keep Sunday.” [bold emphases mine]

 

            By the grace of the Father in Heaven, those “clergymen of various denominations” did not succeed in their “underhand manner” and “secret maneuvering.”  The Sunday question rose and fell from that time to our present age.  It is currently determined by legislators and politicians that a Sunday law is beyond the realm of possibility, all things considered.  Of course, there are “die-hard” Adventists that predict a “national Sunday law” almost yearly.  These uninformed individuals press their ideas based upon some faulty understandings of prophetic principles (such as conditional prophecy) coupled with overly strict literal interpretations of Ellen G. White’s writings. [see 1 Selected Messages p.57]  It is not our burden to deal with that subject in this article however.  You may be interested to read “On the Sunday Law,” by David Aguilar and found at the following location: http://www.binaryangel.net/essays/eSunlaw.html

 

            What can be accomplished here is to solidify the argument that Satan has planned to overturn the principles of the U. S. Constitution in such as way as to restrict religious liberty for a particular group of Sabbath-keeping Adventists.  To “compel the nation to keep Sunday,” was only one of several possible ways he could achieve his goals.  And remember that the target group for Satan’s devices was to be “the people of God.”  In Ellen White’s mind, this meant the “Sabbath-keeping Adventists” (known as “Seventh-day Adventists”) would have their religious liberty restricted by a compelling law that must somehow undermine the civil and religious freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution.

 

            Let us review some of the constitutional guarantees afforded Americans.  As stated by Ellen White in The Great Controversy, page 295, “the Constitution guarantees, in the most explicit terms, the inviolability of conscience: ‘No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office of public trust under the United States.’  ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.’”  Expanding her commentary from page 441 of the same book, we read, “Among the Christian exiles who first fled to America and sought an asylum from royal oppression and priestly intolerance were many who determined to establish a government upon the broad foundation of civil and religious liberty.  Their views found place in the Declaration of Independence, which sets forth the great truth that ‘all men are created equal’ and endowed with the inalienable right to ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.’  And the Constitution guarantees to the people the right of self-government, providing that representatives elected by the popular vote shall enact and administer the laws.  Freedom of religious faith was also granted, every man being permitted to worship God according to the dictates of his conscience.  Republicanism and Protestantism became the fundamental principles of the nation.  These principles are the secret of its power and prosperity.  The oppressed and downtrodden throughout Christendom have turned to this land with interest and hope.  Millions have sought its shores, and the United States has risen to a place among the most powerful nations of the earth.”  Surely, we must agree with her sentiments and conclusions.

 

So, if Satan failed in his plot against “the people of God” in the nineteenth century, while seeking to instigate a constitutional amendment designed to “compel the nation to keep Sunday,” what could have possibly happened in later decades to prevent “liberty and justice for all” in our time?  It will be necessary here to review one of the most germane prophetic themes that rightly applies to modern America and the current events being transacted before us.

 

Turning to Revelation, chapter 13, let us read verse one:  “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.”  It is well-established among Adventists that the Bible refers to the United States in this verse.  The Constitution provides for both civil and religious freedoms (represented by the two horns of a lamb-like symbolic animal), but the nation contradicts her values after a time, speaking through her laws as if she had become a dragon (or as an image of the Devil).  This was exactly the aim of Satan in his efforts of the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century with respect to Sunday sacredness.  And the arch-enemy of humanity has never relented in his efforts to bring about a restriction of civil and religious liberties in the United States of America in particular and the world in general.

 

We read further in the same chapter about the “image” and “mark” of “the beast.”  “And there was given to him [United States government—the two-horned beast] to give breath [ability to act] to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast might even speak [via laws of the land] and cause [or force by court orders] as many as do not worship [agree with] the image of the beast to be killed [or condemned in the sense of losing civil and religious freedoms, that is, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”].  And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves [that is, no citizen is exempted], to be given a mark on their right hand [the seat of overt behavior], or on their forehead [the seat of decision-making], and he provides that no one should be able to buy or to sell [that is, unable to function as normal citizens], except the one who has [acceptance of] the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.” (Revelation 13:15-17, NASB; brackets supplied)  The “mark” in question is defined as “either the name…or the number of his name.”  There is only one civil law that comes to mind pertaining to “marks,” “names,” and “numbers,” and that is trademark law.  The Bible warning in Revelation 14:11 states, “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship [agree with] the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth [accepts in the forehead or goes along with the hand] the mark of his name.”  (brackets supplied)  Evidently, there is something very noteworthy the Almighty is trying to tell us about modern trademark law in America.  A warning is issued that, under certain conditions, the nation’s citizens are in danger of experiencing great distress of mind, and tormented by the realization of eternal separation from Heaven.  But, we must remember that the target group for restriction of liberties is to be Sabbath-keeping Adventists (“the people of God”).  We must conclude that some application of American trademark law will affect the people of God in a terribly adverse manner.  In fact, the result will be that “Sabbath-keeping Adventists” will lose their rights as normal American citizens.  How could this be?  Certainly, it must relate to their religious convictions.

 

We have already clearly established that Satan’s plan is to circumvent the principles of the Constitution to the point that “the people of God” will lose the blessing of religious liberty.  It is, therefore, via perverted civil law that Satan’s aims are accomplished.  Note and remember that the two salient characteristics of the two-horned lamb-like beast is “civil and religious liberty.”  “When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with Spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and Republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan, and that the end is near.”  (Testimonies for the Church Volume Five, page 451)  Here is a similar quote from The Great Controversy, page 588, “The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of Spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.”  It is necessary to keep in mind that the “three-fold union” spoken of in the Spirit of Prophecy has its purpose to “trample on the rights of conscience.”  This is in perfect harmony with the determination of Satan to finally “repudiate every principle of [the United States] Constitution.”

 

            Perhaps providing some definitions of Protestantism, Romanism, and Spiritualism from the Spirit of Prophecy can illuminate our understanding adequately.

 

1)      Protestantism:  The principles contained in this celebrated Protest [of Spires] . . . constitute the very essence of Protestantism.  Now this Protest [or Spires] opposes two abuses of man in matters of faith: the first is the intrusion of the civil magistrate, and the second the arbitrary authority of the church. Instead of these abuses, Protestantism sets the power of conscience above the magistrate, and the authority of the word of God above the visible church.  In the first place, it rejects the civil power in divine things, and says with the prophets and apostles, 'We must obey God rather than man.'  In presence of the crown of Charles the Fifth, it uplifts the crown of Jesus Christ.  But it goes farther: it lays down the principle that all human teaching should be subordinate to the oracles of God.’”  (quoted in The Great Controversy, pages 203, 204; brackets supplied)  Apostate Protestantism:  “When a minister who has labored successfully in securing souls to Jesus Christ abandons his sacred work in order to secure temporal gain, he is called an apostate, and he will be held accountable to God for the talents that he has misapplied.”  (Testimonies for the Church Volume Four, page 468)  “The remnant church will be brought into great trial and distress.  Those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus will feel the ire of the dragon and his hosts. Satan numbers the world as his subjects, he has gained control of the apostate churches; but here is a little company that are resisting his supremacy.   If he could blot them from the earth, his triumph would be complete.  As he influenced the heathen nations to destroy Israel, so in the near future he will stir up the wicked powers of earth to destroy the people of God.  All will be required to render obedience to human edicts in violation of the divine law.”  (Testimonies for the Church Volume Nine, page 231)  “The prevailing spirit of our time is that of infidelity and apostasy – a spirit of pretended illumination because of a knowledge of the truth, but in reality of the blindest presumption.  There is a spirit of opposition to the plain word of God and to the testimony of His Spirit.  There is a spirit of idolatrous exaltation of mere human reason above the revealed wisdom of God.”  (Testimonies for the Church Volume Five, page 79)  “No superiority of rank, dignity, or worldly wisdom, no position in sacred office, will preserve men from sacrificing principle when left to their own deceitful hearts.  Those who have been regarded as worthy and righteous prove to be ring-leaders in apostasy and examples in indifference and in the abuse of God's mercies.  Their wicked course He will tolerate no longer, and in His wrath He deals with them without mercy.”  (Ibid, page 212)  “As the approach of the Roman armies was a sign to the disciples of the impending destruction of Jerusalem, so may this apostasy be a sign to us that the limit of God's forbearance is reached, that the measure of our nation's iniquity is full, and that the angel of mercy is about to take her flight, never to return.”  (Ibid, 451)  “It was apostasy that led the early church to seek the aid of the civil government, and this prepared the way for the development of the papacy – the beast.  Said Paul: ‘There‘ shall ‘come a falling away, . . . and that man of sin be revealed.’ 2 Thessalonians 2:3.  So apostasy in the church will prepare the way for the image to the beast.”

 

2)      Romanism:  To the Romanist the Bible is a forbidden book, because it plainly reveals the errors of the Roman system; and whoever searches the Bible with an enlightened understanding, cannot long be in harmony with Romanism.  He who searches the Bible to understand the truth, will find no authority in the word of God for the assumption of power on the part of popes and cardinals.  There is no word of God that sanctions their assumed superiority or supremacy over their people, as there is no word to sanction the claim that Lucifer made in heaven of superiority over Christ.  The claim of the Papacy to superiority is made under the influence of the first great usurper, who so persistently urged his right to supremacy over the host of God.  Through the Dark Ages, – that long night of ignorance and superstition, – the claim of the Papacy to superiority and supremacy was conceded by emperors and kings, although God had sanctioned no such concession, and raised up men to dispute the claim, and to break the Romish yoke from the church of God.  Through his appointed agencies God summoned the church to reassert her independence, and in the strength of God she stood forth in the liberty wherewith Christ had made her free. She broke away from the papal yoke, and with the word of God in her hand, met the giant evil of Romanism, …”  “Popery is the religion of human nature, and the mass of humanity love a doctrine that permits them to commit sin, and yet frees them from its consequences.  People must have some form of religion, and this religion, formed by human device, and yet claiming divine authority, suits the carnal mind.  Men who think themselves wise and intelligent turn away in pride from the standard of righteousness, the ten commandments, and do not think it is in harmony with their dignity to inquire into the ways of God.  Therefore they go into false ways, into forbidden paths, become self-sufficient, self inflated, after the pattern of the pope, not after the pattern of Jesus Christ.  They must have the form of religion that has the least requirement of spirituality and self-denial, and as unsanctified human wisdom will not lead them to loathe popery, they are naturally drawn toward its provisions and doctrines.  They do not want to walk in the ways of the Lord.  They are altogether too much enlightened to seek God prayerfully and humbly, with an intelligent knowledge of his word.  Not caring to know the ways of the Lord, their minds are all open to delusions, all ready to accept and believe a lie.  They are willing to have the most unreasonable, most inconsistent falsehoods palmed off upon them as truth.”  (The Signs of the Times, February 19, 1894)  

 

3)      Spiritualism:  “The sermon which Satan preached to Eve upon the immortality of the soul – ‘Ye shall not surely die’ – they have reiterated from the pulpit; and the people receive it as pure Bible truth. It is the foundation of spiritualism. The word of God nowhere teaches that the soul of man is immortal. Immortality is an attribute of God only.”  (Testimonies for the Church Volume One, page 344)  “By spiritualism, multitudes are taught to believe that desire is the highest law, that license is liberty, and that man is accountable only to himself.”  (The Acts of the Apostles, page 474)  “As spiritualism more closely imitates the nominal Christianity of the day, it has greater power to deceive and ensnare.  Satan himself is converted, after the modern order of things.  He will appear in the character of an angel of light.  Through the agency of spiritualism, miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and many undeniable wonders will be performed.  And as the spirits will profess faith in the Bible, and manifest respect for the institutions of the church, their work will be accepted as a manifestation of divine power.”  (The Great Controversy, page 588)  “I was directed to this scripture as especially applying to modern spiritualism.  Col. 2: 8: ‘Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.’ […]  If the mind commences to run in this channel, it is almost sure to lose its balance, and be controlled by a demon. ‘Vain deceit’ fills the minds of poor mortals.  They think there is such power in themselves to accomplish great works, that they realize no necessity of a higher power.  Their principles and faith are ‘after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.’  Jesus has not taught them this philosophy.  Nothing of the kind can be found in his teachings.  He did not direct the minds of poor mortals to themselves to a power which they possessed.  He was ever directing their minds to God, the Creator of the universe, as the source of their strength and wisdom.”  (Spiritual Gifts, Volume 4B, page 87)  “Through spiritualism many of the sick, the bereaved, the curious, are communicating with evil spirits.  All who venture to do this are on dangerous ground.  The word of truth declares how God regards them.  In ancient times He pronounced a stern judgment on a king who had sent for counsel to a heathen oracle:  ‘Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron?”  (The Acts of the Apostles, page 290)  It may surprise some to read that among Adventists the use of secular lawyers for the purpose of initiating and pursuing civil matters in the courts of the land is regarded as a form of spiritualism.  We read, for example, “Matters have been presented before me that have filled my soul with keen anguish.  I saw men linking up arm in arm with lawyers, but God was not in their company.  Having many ideas regarding the work, they go to the lawyers for help to carry out their plans.  I am commissioned to say to such that they are not moving under the inspiration of the Spirit of God.  ’Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?’ 2 Kings 1:3.  Men in responsible positions are uniting with those in the church and out of the church, whose counsel is misleading.  Is it necessary for the Lord to come to you with a rod to show you that you need a higher experience before you can be fitted for connection with the family above?  Will you link up with men who have a faculty for accusing, for thinking and speaking evil of the things that God approves?  In the name of the Lord I tell you that you need clearer discernment and clearer spiritual eyesight.”  (Testimonies for the Church Volume Eight, page 69)   

 

It is the apostasy process of Protestant America that is described as “the falling away” by the Apostle.  This falling away from the principles of the Word of God and taking on the attributes of the world mingles Protestantism with Romanism and Spiritualism.  The consequential three-fold union formed is precisely the “well-funded machine” spoken of by Attorney Charles Holliday in DEFENDANT’S OBJECTION TO MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION ON PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR SANCTIONS AND PERMANENT INJUNCTIVE RELIEF:  “Pastor McGill is a man of humble resources up against a well-funded machine.  The Court granted summary judgment to Plaintiffs on the major issue in this case—the trademark claim—and then ordered the parties to engage in mediation of collateral issues.  Pastor McGill’s religion does not allow him to compromise on the issues in dispute.  Should he face a default judgment for failing to mediate, at great personal expense, something he cannot compromise?”  You will wish to read my first two essays on this subject under the titles, “Sued by a Fictitious Person,” and “Hated of All Men for [His] Name’s Sake.”  They are found online via a Google key-word search.

 

            More specifically, the three-fold union can be explained in this way.  The “apostate Protestant” church turns out to be the Seventh-day Adventist Church, having joined hands with Romanism, exercising the “religion of human nature,” exalting her existence above the authority of the Word of God, and employing the strong arm of civil government to sustain her institutions.  This unholy union was further prospered and enabled by its intercourse with spiritualism.  You may refresh your memory with this statement from the pen of inspiration:  I saw men linking up arm in arm with lawyers, but God was not in their company.  Having many ideas regarding the work, they go to the lawyers for help to carry out their plans.  I am commissioned to say to such that they are not moving under the inspiration of the Spirit of God.”  (Testimonies for the Church Volume Eight, page 69)  Just as in the demise of ancient Israel, the plan of Satan for modern Israel has been fulfilled in a most startling manner.  The people that were divinely called to accept the Messiah and illuminate the world with the gospel were those who finally scorned the Savior and put Him to a shameful death.  The very “people” that were called of YAHWEH to resist and overcome the devices of Satan, including the beast and his image, virtually became the instruments through which the enemy of souls managed to circumvent the freedoms guaranteed by the United States Constitution.  The name of this “three-fold union” is the General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists (legal owner of SDA Church assets in America and abroad).  This Corporation is also the “fictitious person” (or “image of the beast”) that speaks and causes (by force of civil law) as many as do not worship (or agree with) the Corporation to be condemned in the sense of losing civil and religious freedoms that normal citizens generally possess.  And, all of this Satanic success has been made possible by the Lanham Act of 1946 wherein federal trademark law resides.  Religious societies were allowed the same trademark rights as if they were commercial entities.  “Although the law of God will be almost universally made void in the world, there will be a remnant of the righteous that will be obedient to God's requirements.  The wrath of the dragon will be directed against the loyal servants of Heaven.  Says the prophet, ‘The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.’  We can see from this scripture that it is not the true church of God that makes war with those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.  It is the people who make void the law, who place themselves on the side of the dragon, and persecute those who vindicate God's precepts.”  (The Signs of the Times, April 22, 1889)  The Seventh-day Adventist Church has shown her true colors by making war with the Creation Seventh Day Adventists in the lawsuit styled as GENERAL CONFERENCE CORPORATION OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS, et al., vs. WALTER MCGILL d/b/a CREATION SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH, et al. (Civil Action No. 1:06-cv-01207-JDB).

 

            It is reasonable and necessary to regress a bit and explain the chronological process that has taken place to form the “three-fold union” that now functions as “the image of the beast” of Bible prophecy.  I think the details of such a development are essential for your complete understanding.

 

            The Seventh-day Adventist Church from the 1860s until the 1940s had stood forth as the “Champion of modern Protestantism.”  In fact, the following statement was published in 1942:  The Protestant, claiming the Bible to be the only guide of faith, has no warrant for observing Sunday.  In this matter the Seventh Day Adventist is the only consistent Protestant. . . .”  (The Catholic Universe Bulletin, Aug. 14, 1942, p. 4)  At this time, Roman Catholics found Seventh-day Adventists to be “the only consistent Protestant.”  However, Seventh-day Adventists had already begun making some shifts in doctrinal perspectives.  For example, by the 1930s, the non-trinitarian position held predominantly by SDA pioneers was converted into a belief in a Trinity consisting of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, making the Holy Spirit a “person” equal to Father and Son.  By the 1950s, leaders within Seventh-day Adventist institutions were compromising other doctrines such as our pioneer understanding of the atonement.  A significant number of influential parties were advocating the atonement to be finished at the cross when Christ’s sacrifice was completed.  Along with this error, a movement denying that Christ had taken on “sinful flesh” was well under way.  In the 1930s, the General Conference had published its first Church Manual, which reversed a General Conference resolution from the 1880s stating that Seventh-day Adventists would never have any thing to do with such an instrument.  Creeds and manuals were outside of the realm of consideration for pioneer SDAs that held tenaciously to the Word of God as their only rule of faith.  As the faith “once delivered to the saints” was eroding step by step, the apostasy was growing in strength and scope.  It was 1980 when the first “official statement of beliefs” was published by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

 

Though the leading men denied that these “27 fundamental doctrines” were intended to function as a creed, it was clear that church officials in many parts of the world began using this doctrinal summation as a way to define Seventh-day Adventism in general and a Seventh-day Adventist believer in particular.  By the mid-1980s most of the pioneers of the Seventh-day Adventist faith would not have been accepted into church membership because of such gross deviation from original SDA doctrine by the “new movement.”  Read what was written by the prophetess of YAH in Battle Creek Letters, page 81, “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 [This has occurred in the “progressive movement.”], and engaging in a process of reorganization.  [This has occurred in corporate levels.]  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.  [This has occurred by deviation from pioneer doctrine.]  Our religion would be changed.  [This has occurred by defining the “religion” as the Church structure apart from the founding and fundamental principles of the faith.]  The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error.  [This has occurred as exemplified in the shift from non-trinitarian doctrine to the Trinity.]  A new organization would be established.  [This has occurred in the restructuring of the General Conference Corporation in the 1960s.]  Books of a new order would be written.  [This has occurred and can be substantiated by visiting any Adventist Book Center.]  A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced.  [This has occurred and can easily be substantiated by examining centers of Adventist education.]  The founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work.  [This has occurred, and the General Conference publishes their successes far and wide.]  The Sabbath, of course would be lightly regarded [as seen in the manner of general Sabbath observance by the members world-wide], as also the God who created it.  [This has occurred and can be observed in the apathy and spiritual degeneration of church members in general.]  Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement.  [This has occurred through the employment of the civil power to disfranchise all heretics who challenge their standing.]  The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being removed they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless  [This has occurred in the trademark lawsuits that have proliferated since the 1980s.].”  (all brackets supplied by me)

 

As a logical conclusion to the Protestant apostasy in America, 1981 marked the successful federal trademark registration of the religious name “SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST” by the General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists sealing the church’s final spiritual fall.  Five years following the approval of name registration, the Corporation began dominating the strong arm of civil power to prosecute many splinter Adventist groups choosing to employ the term “Seventh-day Adventist” in their advertising and/or identities.  “The world and unconverted church members are in sympathy with each other. Some, when God reproves them for wanting their own way, make the world their confidence, and bring church matters before the world for decision.  Then there is collision and strife, and Christ is crucified afresh and put to open shame.  These church members who appeal to the courts of the world show that they have chosen the world as their judge, and their names are registered in heaven as one with unbelievers.”  (Manuscript Releases Volume Eleven, page 216)  If this condemnation is true for “church members,” how much more is it true for the church leaders and denomination as a corporate body?  Much has been written on this final act of apostasy during the past two decades; consequently, I shall not take up space to cover those details.  You may request the book entitled “Finally… Out of Darkness, Into His Marvelous Light” that describes the facts succinctly.  Simply send your order with name and postal address to csda_relief@yahoo.com.  If you prefer a PDF format of the book to download, it is available online.

 

            With the Seventh-day Adventist Church apostasy fully matured in the 1980s, the dynamics of the three-fold union and image of the beast development had completed.  The progression of fraternizing with Roman Catholicism and accepting the axioms of the world in contrast with the plainest principles of the Bible, along with seeking the advice and counsel of worldly lawyers, had meshed “Protestant America,” “Romanism,” and “Spiritualism.”  Such a result was the fulfillment of Bible prophecy – the very image of the beast that is “the great test for the people of God, by which their eternal destiny will be decided.”  All who agree or find harmony with this image beast will discover too late that they have been overcome by the arch-deceiver – the Devil himself.  “Suppose a criminal in court, who had violated the law of his State, should make his plea that he had generally obeyed the laws.  He had only stolen his neighbor's goods occasionally, and had led an honest life for the most part; would that relieve justice from executing the penalty?  Could a just judge and jury bring in a verdict ‘not guilty’?  You can see the absurdity of the case, and yet men of intelligence in all worldly affairs are not wise in matters pertaining to their eternal salvation.  They are found seeking to climb up some other way than God has provided, trying to make terms with the infinite One.  Many poor souls are leaning on such a broken reed, building on such an insecure foundation, laying hold on ropes of sand, and at last they will awaken to realize that they are lost!”  (The Signs of the Times, December 15, 1887)  In addition, the remnant messenger warns us, “I tell you now that you must have divine enlightenment.  If you do not seek this, Satan will set up his hellish banner right in your homes, and you will be so blinded to the real nature of his deceptions that you will reverence it as the banner of Christ.”  (Ellen G. White; Manuscript 18, 1888, p. 4)

 

            The title of this paper is “With LIBERTY and JUSTICE for ALL?” with a conspicuous question mark supplied.   Considering the current application of trademark law in the U. S., it is impossible for Creation Seventh Day Adventists to enjoy their constitutionally guaranteed liberties in America.  In fact, the only way they may be afforded any form of religious liberty would be to seek asylum in “solitary places.”  This being the case, justice is NOT “for all” in America.  Creation Seventh Day Adventists can neither countenance the thought of compromise with respect to their religious convictions nor comply with compelling court orders that restrict “the free exercise thereof.”  “The Lord has shown me clearly that the image of the beast will be formed before probation closes; for it is to be the great test for the people of God, by which their eternal destiny will be decided. . . . [Rev. 13:11-17 quoted.] . . .”  (S. D. A. Bible Commentary Volume Seventh, page 976)   "No name which we can take will be appropriate but that which accords with our profession and expresses our faith and marks us a peculiar people.  The name Seventh-day Adventist is a standing rebuke to the Protestant world.  Here is the line of distinction between the worshipers of God and those who worship the beast and receive his mark.  The great conflict is between the commandments of God and the requirements of the beast.  It is because the saints are keeping all ten of the commandments that the dragon makes war upon them.  If they will lower the standard and yield the peculiarities of their faith, the dragon will be at peace; but they excite his ire because they have dared to raise the standard and unfurl their banner in opposition to the Protestant world..." (Testimonies for the Church Volume One, page 223)  It is not reasonable for Creation Seventh Day Adventists “to seek asylum in solitary places” as an appropriate “free exercise” of their faith.  They are divinely mandated to “raise the standard and unfurl their banner in opposition to the Protestant world.”  As stated by the Attorney for Defendants, Charles Holliday, “In most cases, the only thing that stands in the way of settlement is the location of the decimal point.  In this case, the gap between the parties is intangible and as wide as the universe is long.  Both parties claim the right to use three words: Seventh Day Adventist.  Pastor McGill’s religion requires him to use these words, and the Court already has granted the Plaintiffs summary judgment on this issue.”  Dear Reader, you should be able to understand at this point – in the United States of America, “liberty and justice [are not] for all.”  Satan has at long last succeeded in his plan to circumvent the sacred principles of liberty guaranteed by the United States Constitution.  By and through perverted application of federal and state trademark law, the United States two-horned beast has “repudiated every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and Republican government, and [has made] provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, [now] we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan, and that the end is near.”

 

As I am now expecting, from District Court, a permanent injunction (including sanctions) ordering me to cease and desist using the name of my faith – Creation Seventh Day Adventist, I conclude my article as I began it, together with the alarming question mark – “With LIBERTY and JUSTICE for ALL?