THE LAST CHURCH NAME

Seventh-day Adventists are charged with a most solemn responsibility. "Thebanner of truth and religious liberty which the reformers held aloft hasin this last conflict been committed to us." (6T 402). "The Sabbath willbe the great test of loyalty, for it is the point of truth especiallycontroverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, thenthe line of distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and thosewho serve Him not. While the observance of the false sabbath in compliancewith the law of the state, contrary to the fourth commandment, will be anavowal of allegiance to a power that is in opposition to God, the keepingof the true Sabbath, in obedience to God's law, is an evidence of loyaltyto the Creator. While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthlypowers, receive the mark of the beast, the other choosing the token of allegianceto divine authority, receive the seal of God." (GC 605). "The Lord has shownme 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 eternaldestiny will be decided . . ." (7BC 976).

What forms the image of the beast? "The 'image to the beast' represents thatform of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestantchurches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of theirdogmas. . . . it follows that the keeping of God's law, on the one hand,and its violation, on the other, will make the distinction between the worshipersof God and the worshipers of the beast." (GC 445-46).

"NOTE: The beast 'which had the wound by a sword, and did live,' is the Papacy.That was a church dominating the civil power, a union of church and state,enforcing its religious dogmas by the civil power, by confiscation, imprisonment,and death. An image to the beast would be another ecclesiastical organizationclothed with civil power another union of church and state to enforce religionby law." (Bible Readings for the Home, p.261).

Ellen G. White is considered a prophetess by all faithful Seventh-day Adventists.Anyone believing in E.G. White must regard the following as a faithful saying:"I was shown in regard to the remnant people of God taking a name. Two classeswere presented before me. One class embraced the great bodies of professedChristians . . . The other class, who were but a few in number, were bowingto the great Lawgiver. They were keeping the fourth commandment. The peculiarand prominent features of their faith were the observance of the seventhday, and waiting for the appearing of our Lord from heaven . . . No namewhich we can take will appropriate but that which accords with our professionand expresses our faith and marks us a peculiar people. The name Seventh-dayAdventist is a standing rebuke to the Protestant world . . . The name Seventh-dayAdventist carries the true features of our faith in front, and will convictthe inquiring mind. Like an arrow from the Lord's quiver, it will wound thetransgressors of God's law, and will lead to repentance toward God and faithin our Lord Jesus Christ." (1T 223-24). "I have been shown that this name[Seventh-day Adventist ] means much, and in adopting it we have followedthe light given us from heaven . . . This distinctive banner is to be bornethrough the world to the close of probation." (Ms 15, 1896). Adventists canthus regard their name as sacred.

In a newsletter, SDA Kinship Connection, March 1991, the followingis written by Ron Lawson, "Toward the end of 1981, the General Conferencetrademarked the name, "Seventh-day Adventist," which it had been using sinceits official formation in 1863. Trademarking its name was then an unusualaction for a religious denomination, although some others have since followedsuit. It is not clear what events prompted the action, although as earlyas April 1981 (when the trademarking process was probably already underway)the North American Division committee had mentioned seeking counsel concerningwhat could be done to stop Kinship from using the denominational name. .. . The G.C. later trademarked "Adventist," although it has yet to try toenforce this mark legally. . . . In December of 1987 the G.C., brought suitagainst us, demanding that we change our name and requesting that they beawarded both damages and legal costs." (p.15).

On June 18, 1988, after fines had been imposed against the little Kona, HawaiiAdventist church, then G.C. President, Neal C. Wilson, made the followingstatement when asked how he could harmonize the G.C. trademark lawsuit positionwith the Bible and Ellen White's counsel: "She says, that's right, 'don'tcrucify Christ afresh by going to the civil court.' Work it out internally.Now, we have appealed, over, and over, and over and over again to these people,you know, don't use the name Seventh-day Adventist. If you're going to fightthe church, you do it on your own, but don't try and use the name Seventh-dayAdventist. If they don't respond to that. We're saying, 'We've got to protectthat name, because we are giving a false impression to the world' . . . Andthis church-state business, be a little careful how you use that, becausethat is not in Scripture; separation of Church and State. That is a particularNorth American philosophy. It exists no where else in the world." (citedin Conflict, p.13). "When [the church] . . . shall influence the stateto enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, Then ProtestantAmerica will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the inflictionof civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result." (GC 445).

There is an interesting parallel between the Papacy and the General Conferenceof Seventh-day Adventists. Consider the following illustration:

                        PROPHECY OF THE BEAST (1260 Years)Church-State Union     Papacy Impowered                     Deadly Wound        321 A.D.                538 A.D.---------1260 years---------1798 A.D.       Constantine's Sunday Law             Heretics Punished   Pope taken prisoner                             PROPHECY OF THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST (42 Months)Church-State Union      Trademark Enforced                  Deadly Wound       1981 (Demand Letters Sent) May 1988--------42 months-------October 1991GC Trademark        Judgment to imprison Pastor Marik    Kinship won lawsuit                         Fines imposed)                      

A quote from Bible Readings for the Home, page 474 reveals a principleworth noting here, "The history of all the religious persecutions since Bibletimes is but a repetition of this same story the wicked persecute the righteous.And thus it will continue to be until the conflict between good and evilis ended. (See Psalm 37:12, 14, 32.)"

Our conclusion is that the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists hasformed an image of the beast. To reinforce this position the following pointsmay be considered:

1. The General Conference is a reflection of the Roman hierarchy.
   "After thoroughly studying the S.D.A. church structure, Judge Hart makes this startling but true assessment, 'Church documents that prescribe the church's structure and governance confirm that all parts of the church are parts of a single structure and governance confirm that all parts of the church are parts of a single entity. Next to the Roman Catholic church, the Adventist church is the most centralized of all the major Christian denominations in the country. The General Conference, as the world wide governing body of the Adventist denomination, is the church's highest legislative, judicial and ecclesiastical authority.'" (cited in Conflict, p.11).
2. The General Conference has "made void the law of God."
   "In their religious bigotry men will resist all evidence and refuse all light. Those who make void the law of God, as the teachers of today are doing, have no standard by which to measure their own character or the character of others. 'Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.' Instead of being softened by the compassion of God, they presume on His mercy. Instead of manifesting godlike compassion toward others, they cultivate the attributes of the enemy of God and bring oppression upon God's people by enforcing man-made laws." (ST 01-31-00).
3. The General Conference is guilty of Sabbath-breaking, and in this spiritual state, observes the false sabbath on Saturday as the Jewish nation past and present.
   "Now I want to state a little further upon the principle that no Christian, being a citizen of the kingdom of God, can of right start any procedure in connection with civil government. After it is started by the government itself, that is another question . . . I repeat therefore, that upon the principles which govern kingdoms and governments, the very principle of the law in heaven, or law in earth, a Christian cannot start any procedure in connection with civil government. And of all Christians, Seventh-day Adventists cannot do it. The very keeping of the Sabbath forbids it." (A.T. Jones, 1895).
4. The General Conference is in a church-state union with the U.S. government, and evidence of having exercised the power of the civil government to punish dissenters is published.

By now it should be obvious to you that the General Conference Churches are"Babylon fallen". If doubt persists read:

"The legal 'complaint' [of the G.C. against SDA Kinship International] was a strange document, for since it was brought under trademark laws it had to be couched in purely commercial terms. So Kinship was accused of trying to encroach on the church's market and utilize the goodwill that its marketing had built up around the church name. The complaint did not mention that we were either Adventists or gay or lesbian." (SDA Kinship Connection, page 15).

Notice the language of Rev. 18:3,7,11,15,23 in relationship to church-stateunion and commerce.
"...the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchantsof the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. . .. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously . . . she saithin her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow . .. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no manbuyeth their merchandise any more...The merchants of these things, whichwere made rich by her . . . And the light of a candle shall shine no moreat all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall beheard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of theearth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived."

So, we conclude: The General Conference has no longer a moral right to thename "Seventh-day Adventist."

"We may claim to be Seventh-day Adventists, and yet fail of realizing how exalted is the standard to which we must attain in order to deserve this name. Some have felt ashamed of being known as Seventh-day Adventists. Those who are ashamed of this name should never connect with those who feel it an honor to bear this name. And those who are Christ's witnesses, standing where the truths of the Bible have placed them, are worthy of the name they bear." (Letter 6, 1903).

THE LAST CHURCH NAME has been given to us by God, Himself. Becauseof the righteous principles set forth by the Bible and E.G. White's counsel,the name of God's last visible body is THE CREATION 7TH DAY ADVENTISTCHURCH. Our responsibilities are summarized in the following manner:

SDA's are to prepare a people to receive the seal of God by heralding the"three angels' messages" of Rev. 14 to the world.

• FIRST ANGEL: Preaching the "everlasting gospel" of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" the remedy for all sin. Announcing the hour of God's judgment soon coming of the Messiah for His Bride. Exalting the Creator by teaching the principles of Creation in the physical realm as well as the spiritual.
• SECOND ANGEL: Warning God's people against the errors of Babylon which cause confusion in the mind. Calling the faithful souls out of the fallen churches into a "holiness highway" where victory over sin and error abounds.
• THIRD ANGEL: Maintaining the cause of religious liberty by warning against worshipping "the beast and his image" and by reflecting the image of Christ in a life service of love. Exalting the standard of righteousness God's Ten Commandments, calling special attention to the true Sabbath of YAH's rest. Teaching both the necessity of putting away all sin and the process of victory.

It is well established by the writings of E.G. White that the name Seventh-dayAdventist will be the "banner" of God's true church until the end of probation.We are Seventh-day Adventists because we observe "the seventh day, and [are]waiting for the appearing of our Lord from heaven." This "name carries thetrue features of our faith in front, and will convict the inquiring mind."(1T 223-24).

The warning of the third angel of Rev. 14:9-11 is of the most serious nature.In fact, it is one of the most solemn warnings in all of the Bible.

"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any manworship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, orin his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God . . ."(vv. 9,10).

If you stay in the fallen SDA denomination you become guilty of her sinsand will receive of her plagues (Rev. 18:4), effectively taking the markof the beast: 1) In the forehead if you believe in the trademark policy,and 2) In the hand if you just go along with the trademark. If you come outof the fallen organization, but do not retain the name Seventh-day Adventist,you are in principle worshipping the image by obeying the trademark law.This law says that no true SDA can exist outside of membership in the G.C.Churches. When you give up the name, you obey the image. God's people cannot obey this law any more than we can agree with a Sunday law or Sabbathlaw. If you come out of the fallen SDA system and do not desire to join withus in overcoming the beast and his image, you frustrate the prayer of Christfor our unity. "The prayer of Christ to His Father, contained in the seventeenthchapter of John, is to be our church creed. It shows us that our differenceand disunion are dishonoring to God . . ." (LHU 296). Let us think on thesethings as we prepare to receive the seal of God.